Effect of intrauterine infusion of polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine and intramuscular injection of prostaglandin F_2α on reproductive performance in cows

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine solution (PVP-I) and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF_2α) on the reproductive performance of mild endometritis cows that had a heavy, thick-walled, rigid muscle-bound uterus. Eight-two Holstein-Friesian mild endometritis cows with abnormal uteri were randomly assigned to two groups. In group 1 (n = 46), the cows were treated with PVP-I (20 ml, iu) on Day 4 of the estrous cycle. In group 2 (n = 36), cows were treated with PGF _2α (25 mg, im) during the mid-luteal phase (Days 10 to 15). The cows were treated before 150 days after calving, and all cows were artificially inseminated at the first following estrus. There was no significant difference between the pregnancy rates at the first estrus up to 21 days after the treatment in both groups, although the total pregnancy rate tended to be higher in the PVP-I group than in the PGF_2α group (46 versus 25 %, p < 0.06). The PVP-I and PGF_2a groups received an almost equal number of services per conception (1.5 ± 0.7 versus 1.5 + 0.6, mean ± SD). These results suggest that treatment with PVP-I during early lactation might be no less effective than PGF_2α for the reproductive performance in mild endometritis cows with abnormal uteri.