Physical traits of vaginal mucus discharge and their relations to conception rate of Egyptain baladi cows

Abstract EN

The current research aimed to study the conception rate of Egyptian native cows as influenced by vaginal mucus discharge (VMD).

Forty cows were used in the experiment and were followed up after two-week postpartum.

Vaginal mucus discharges were divided into three categories according to transparency (transparent, cloudy and dirty), viscosity (thin and thick) or pH (7-7.5, 7.5-8 and ˃8).

The results indicated that the percentage of cows that conceived which have transparent vaginal mucus discharge (VMD) during estrus were significantly (P <0.05) higher (73.3%) compared with cows which have cloudy and dirty vaginal mucus (40 and 20%), respectively.

The percentage of cows that conceived which have thin vaginal mucus during estrus was significantly (P <0.05) higher (87.5%) compared to those cows which have thick vaginal mucus (25%).

The conception rate was significantly (P <0.05) higher (78.6%) in cows which have vaginal mucus pH level at estrus ˃8 compared with those cows which had vaginal mucus pH value ranging from 7 to 8.

No significant difference in plasma progesterone concentrations during estrus in cows which have different vaginal mucus pH in pregnant and non-pregnant baladi cows.

However, concentrations of estradiol-17βduring estrus in pregnant cows were significantly (P <0.05) higher than non-pregnant cows.

Concentration of estradiol-17β at estrus was significantly (P <0.05) higher in cows which have strong estrus intensity expression compared with cows having weak estrus intensity expression.

In conclusion, the results clarified that the cows, which had vaginal mucus discharge (VMD): transparent, thin, and pH value at estrus ˃8 recorded higher conception rate.

Estradiol-17β concentration was significantly (P <0.05) higher during estrus period in cows, which displayed high estrus intensity.