Comparison of Pelargonium sidoides, Placebo and Antibiotic Treatment of Chronic Endometritis in Dairy Cows: A Field Trial

We compared the effects of the intrauterine application of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) to parenteral antibiotic injection in the treatment of chronic endometritis, which is commonly encountered postpartum in cows. Forty six cows diagnosed with chronic endometritis 21-27 days postpartum were selected and divided into 3 groups. Cows in Group I (n = 16) received a physiological parenteral injection of 10 mL of serum per day for 3 days. Similarly, cows in Group II (n = 15) received 1 mg kg(-1) ceftiofur (Ceftivil (R) parenterally. Those in Group III (n = 15) received an 8 mg (10 mL)/cow intrauterine dose of EPs 7630 (Umca (R)) for 3 days. When examined between the 35th and 41st day, clinical recovery rates were found to be as follows: for Group 1, 1/16 (6.2%); for Group 11, 8/15 (53.3%) and for Group III, 4/15 (26.69%). After this examination, cows whose chronic entrometritis symptoms persisted according to clinical and rectal examination received a further 3 days of the treatment appropriate to their group. Later on various parameters were identified thus, for Groups I-III, respectively: insemination rate 87.5, 66.6 and 93.3%; days to 1st service 103.5, 91.0 and 96.0; 1st service conception rate 28.5, 40.0 and 35.7%; days open 140, 120 and 131 and cows pregnant within 250 DIM 56.25, 80.0 and 66.6%.