Cystic Ovarian Disease in Dairy Cow

Cystic ovarian (OC) condition is an important ovarian dysfunction and a major cause of reproductive failure in dairy cattle. Previously defined as enlarged anovulatory follicle like structures (<2.5 cm) and persisting for 10 or more days OC in dairy cows are currently defined as cystic ovarian follicular structures of at least 17 mm that persist for more than 6 days in the absence of corpus luteum (CL). Past evaluations of OC using trans-rectal palpations have increased, and accurate diagnosis currently employs a combination of trans-rectal palpation, trans-rectal ultrasonography and plasma progesterone assay. Previously the manual rupture of OC was advised, but during the past several years single or combination hCG, GnRH, progesterone and prostaglandins have been frequently practice. Other therapies include clomiphene citrate and trans-vaginal ultrasound guided cystic follicle aspiration. Among the various therapies the Ov-Synch treatment appears to be the most logical approach, yet the pregnancy rates with timed inseminations following therapy with the OvSynch treatment are low, as with other hormonal treatments. It can be concluded that OC can be diagnosed easily yet in spite of many therapeutic options the establishment of pregnancy in cows with OC requires a longer time.