Abstract
<jats:p>Postpartum endometritis remains one of the major reproductive disorders in dairy cattle, significantly affecting fertility and economic performance of farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiological profile of postpartum endometritis and to analyze risk factors associated with its development in Black-and-White dairy cows under the conditions of Almaty region. A prospective study was conducted on 45 cows during the early postpartum period. Cultural examination of uterine contents revealed pathogenic microorganisms in 43 animals (95,6%) with clinical signs of endometritis. The predominant pathogens were Escherichia coli (35,3%), Trueperella pyogenes (31,4%), Staphylococcus aureus (13,7%) and Fusobacterium necrophorum (9,8%). Polymicrobial associations were detected in 39,5% of the samples. Risk factor analysis demonstrated a significant association of postpartum endometritis with dystocia, retained placenta, poor housing conditions and deficiencies of vitamins and minerals in the diet. Cow age, body weight and body condition score had no significant effect on disease development (p>0,05). The obtained results confirm the polymicrobial nature of postpartum endometritis and justify the necessity of a comprehensive, multifactorial approach to its prevention in intensive dairy farming systems.</jats:p>