Low microbial biomass within the reproductive tract of late postpartum dairy cows: a study approach

We evaluated and compared the bacterial composition in different locations of the dairy cow reproductive tract in the late postpartum. The uterine and vaginal bacterial compositions were different, but no differences in bacterial composition were found among distinct locations within the uterus. The bacterial counts were low in the reproductive tract of late postpartum dairy cows, both in the vagina and uterus. In consequence, it was difficult to distinguish between resident bacteria and contaminants. This study also emphasizes on how to deal with samples with low bacterial concentrations.