Effect of flunixin meglumine and aspirin administration on conception rate and estrous cycle characteristics of Egyptian Baladi cows during hot season

The current investigation aims to evaluate the effects of flunixin meglumine (FM) and aspirin as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration on estrous cycles characteristics and conception rate of Egyptian Baladi cows during hot season. In the first phase, 30 cows were divided into 3 groups, 10 cows for each treatment. The first group was treated with FM at the rate of 1.1 mg/kg body weight (BW) intramuscular, while the second group was administrated aspirin solution orally at the rate of 50 mg/kg BW. The third group was assigned as control (CG) that has no treatment. The FM group was administrated on day 14 after mating, while aspirin was given on day 14 and day 15 post-mating. All cows were mated naturally after showing estrus signs. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried 60 days after mating by rectal palpation. In the second phase, cows were monitored for estrus behavior by visual observation twice a day. The length of normal estrous cycles was 20, 23, and 22 days in cows treated with FM, aspirin, and control cows, respectively. There was no significant effect of treatment on the length of normal estrous cycles in Egyptian cows (P < 0.05). Proportions of long cycles in Egyptian cows that treated with FM or aspirin and control were 75, 67.7, and 57.1%, respectively. Short cycles were completely absent in cows that treated with FM or aspirin, but it was 29% in CG. Mounting behavior and tail rising were not detected in CG compared to 0 and 33% in FM or 25 and 33% in aspirin treated cows, respectively. Conception or pregnancy rate were 60, 40, and 30%, respectively, in FM, aspirin treated, and CG. Treatment cows whether FM or aspirin group did not influence (P < 0.05) progesterone concentration during the 14 days and 21 days from estrous cycle in pregnant and non-pregnant Egyptian Baladi cows than CG. In conclusion, the results of this study clearly indicated beneficial effect of FM and aspirin administration on intense of displayed estrous behavior and conception rate of Egyptian Baladi cows during the hot season.

A Comparative Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Oral and Subcutaneous Meloxicam Administered to Postpartum Dairy Cows

The dairy industry needs evidence-based solutions to mitigate painful procedures and conditions in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic properties of orally versus subcutaneously administered meloxicam in early-lactation dairy cattle. The study was conducted at a commercial dairy herd in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Twelve postpartum cows were enrolled in the study, receiving either subcutaneous meloxicam (MET) at 0.5 mg/kg body weight (n = 6) or oral meloxicam (MOS) at a higher dose of 1.0 mg/kg body weight (n = 6) immediately following parturition. The predicted half-life (12.5 ± 2.0 vs. 28.5 ± 2.0 h), C_max (1.59 ± 0.15 vs. 1.95 ± 0.16 μg/mL), T_max (5.33 vs. 11.7 h), and AUC_0→∞ (39.6 ± 7.4 vs. 115.6 ± 19 h * µg/mL) differed significantly between MET and MOS cows, respectively. After controlling for the treatment group, first lactation cows had a significantly higher half-life (4.1 ± 2.1 h), C_max (0.56 ± 0.2 µg/mL), and AUC_0→∞ (21.6 ± h * µg/mL) relative to second lactation or greater cows, respectively. Administration of meloxicam through the subcutaneous or oral route results in appreciable, dose-dependent systemic levels.