Infertility in Cattle
C) Congenital affections of the Uterus
- White heifer disease:
- Commonly observed in white heifers of the short horn breeds (such as Belgian Blue and Shorthorn), caused by a single recessive sex-linked gene to the white color.
- Very rare in other cattle breeds.
- The embryonic development of the anterior vagina, cervix, and uterus of the heifer is arrested in varying degrees.
-The ovaries and fallopian tubes are normal.
- There are three types of white heifer disease based on the site of the defect as follows:
1- Class (I) of the white heifer disease:
- It is the most severe type.
- Characterized by:
- The presence of hymeneal constriction
- Absence of either the cranial part of the vagina, the cervix or the uterine body.
- Cystic dilatation of the uterine horns with yellow to dark reddish-brown mucus.
- Normal heat with repeat breeding followed by anestrus due to blockage of PGF2œ receptors.
2- Class (II) of the white heifer disease (Uterus unicorns, one horn).
- One mullerian duct fails to differentiate into uterine horn, while the other develops normally.
- The hymnal constriction usually is not present.
- The animal shows signs of estrus but infertile.
- Repeat breeding is the common signs of this form.
3- Class (II) of the white heifer disease
- Characterized by the presence of complete imperforated hymen.
- The rest of the genital tract is normal.
- Accumulation of the estrous mucus which is usually amber to dark brown.
- Occasionally, infection may be present, and the imperforated hymens retain a large amount of pus.
- The female becomes anestrum.
- In all cases:
- Service by A.I. is impossible, while normal coitus by the bull in classes (I and III) is
frequently followed by slight hemorrhage and straining.
- If the vaginal distention becomes large (Case I & III), distended bulging of the hymen will appear between the vulvar tips with each abdominal pressing.
- It should be differentiated from pregnancy, freemartins, and pyometra.
- For hereditary reasons, these animals should be discarded. In class (III), an incision of the imperforated hymen can be done.