Holstein cow with bilateral relaxation of the sacrosciatic ligaments. In non-pregnant animals, this condition is associated with the presence of follicular cysts on one or both ovaries and may be accompanied by other concurrent symptoms related to heightened estrogenic activity: vulvar edema, whitish mucocatarrhal vaginal discharge (due to stimulation of mucous cells), prolonged estrus, and decreased milk production. Affected animals most often develop anestrus, and more rarely display symptoms of nymphomania.
The incidence of animals with follicular cysts increases during the spring and fall. In herds with numerous concurrent cases, it is advisable to check for certain predisposing factors: presence of the toxin zearalenone in feed, phytoestrogens, energy deficiency in the ration, deficiency of vitamins and trace elements (vit. A, vit. E, manganese, selenium), stress.
