Toxic elements in the sex organs of the cow and their relationship to fertility

The content of heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn) has been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in parts of genital organs of cows with and without reproductive disorders, in blood, in placenta, in colostrum, and in the calf blood. The samples were collected in an industrially polluted area and in a relatively non-polluted area. It has been proven in the group of 99 cows that the biological quality of the oestrous cervical mucus is also influenced by toxic elements. The best conception rate after the artificial insemination (80.0%) has been found in cows with the cervical mucus without spermiotoxic properties. The genital organs of 49 cows culled because of reproductive disorders were examined. No significant differences in the content of heavy metals have been found in the separate parts of genital organs. There were also no differences between the cows with and without reproductive disorders. Toxic elements in blood have been found in cows after parturition and in newborn calves both in the polluted and the non-polluted areas. However, significant differences (p less than 0.01) were determined only in the content of Cd and Zn. The average content of all determined toxic elements in the samples of placenta in pluriparous and primiparous cows from the polluted and non-polluted areas was approximately at the same level. The content of Zn was 4.3 times higher than the hygienic standard in the colostrum of cows from the polluted area. The content of Zn exceeded the hygienic standard also in the non-polluted area, and the content of Cd and Hg was close to the hygienic standard there.