ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Bovine Fertility Visits Flashcards
Why do we carry out routine bovine fertility visits?
Improve reproductive efficiency
Improve animal health and welfare
Set and achieve targets within the farm
What are seven typical procedures carried out during a bovine fertility visit?
Post-partum checks
Treat post-partum disease
Pre-breeding checks
Pregnancy diagnosis (PDs)
Determine appropriate treatment for PD negative cows
Examine cows who have exceeded voluntary waiting period (VWP)
Body condition scoring
What does voluntary waiting period (VWP) refer to within the cattle industry?
The voluntary waiting period (VWP) is the interval following calving where cows are deliberately left unserved even if detected in oestrus
What does the the transition period refer to within the dairy industry?
The transition period refers to the three weeks before and three weeks after calving
Why are dairy cattle most susceptible to disease during the transition period?
Dairy cattle undergo significant physiological changes during the transition period as they prepare for calving and lactation which can make the cattle more susceptible to disease
List eight common diseases to look out for during a post partum check
Retained foetal membranes
Metritis
Endometritis
Ketosis
Displaced abomasum
Rumenal acidosis
Hypomagnesaemia
Hypocalcaemia
When are foetal membranes classified as retained foetal membranes?
Foetal membranes are classified as retained if they have not been expelled from the cow twelve hours post calving
What are the four risk factors that can predispose cattle to retained foetal membranes?
Dystocia
Twins
Hypocalcaemia
Poor hygiene at calving
What is metritis?
Metritis is inflammation of the uterus
What is the characteristic sign of metritis?
Foul smelling brown to red watery vaginal discharge
What are the three risk factors that can predispose cattle to metritis?
Dystocia
Retained foetal membranes
Poor hygiene at calving
How should metritis be treated in cattle?
Adminster NSAIDs and antibiotics
What is endometritis?
Endometritis is chronic inflammation ( >20 days) of the endometrium
What is the ‘lay’ term often used to describe endometritis in the UK?
Endometritis is often referred to as ‘whites’ by farmers in the UK
What is the characteristic sign of endometritis?
White vaginal discharge
Which antibiotic should be used to treat endometritis in cattle?
Metricure
How should Metricure be administered to treat endometritis?
Intrauterine infusion
Why are dairy cattle so susceptible to ketosis during the transition period?
Ketosis in dairy cattle is caused by a negative energy balance, which means that cows are not consuming enough energy to meet the body’s demands. This is particularly common during lactation where there is a high energy requirement due to their high milk yield
What are the four risk factors that can predispose cattle to a displaced abomasum postpartum?
Hypocalcaemia
Ketosis
Retained foetal membranes
Metritis
When should the first ultrasound to check for pregnancy in cattle be carried out?
28 - 35 post serving
When should the second ultrasound to check for pregnancy in cattle be carried out?
30 days after the first ultrasound
What is common practice in the dairy industry to reduce the calving to conception interval and improve reproductive efficiency?
Manipulating the bovine oestrous cycles
How can the administration of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) be used to manipulate the oestrus cycle in cattle?
Administration of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) will stimulate the secretion of luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary gland which will in turn trigger ovulation, allowing for the optimisation of ovulation
How can the administration of progesterone be used to manipulate the oestrus cycle in cattle?
Administration of progesterone can be used to synchronise the oestrus cycles of the cattle within the herd
What are dairy farmer key performance indicators (KPIs)?
Dairy farmer key performance indicators (KPIs) are important performance metrics which help farmers to assess the performance of their dairy operations
Which five dairy farmer key performance indicators (KPIs) are usually assessed?
Calving interval
Conception rate
Submission rate
Pregnancy rate
Calving to first service interval
What does calving interval refer to in the dairy industry?
A calving interval is the amount of time between the birth of one calf and the subsequent birth of the next calf from the same cow
What is the target calving interval within the dairy industry?
The target calving interval is 384 days
What does conception rate refer to within the dairy industry?
Conception rate refers to the proportion of served cows which become pregnant
How do you calculate conception rate?
Conception rate = (number of animals pregnant / number of services) x 100
What is the target conception rate within the dairy industry?
The target conception rate is 45%
What can be done to improve conception rates within dairy cattle?
Improve nutrition
Genomic selection
Altering insemination practices
Reduce heat stress
Reduce post-partum disease
What does submission rate refer to in the dairy industry?
Submission rate refers to the proportion of eligible cows that are served during a 21 day period
How do you calculate submission rate?
Submission rate = (number of animals served / number of animals eligible to be served) x 100
What is the target submission rate within the dairy industry?
53%
What can be done to improve submission rates within dairy cattle?
Monitor cattle for signs of oestrus
Synchronise the oestrous cycles within the herd
Use a vasectomised bull to detect if cows are in oestrus
Use servicing detection aids i.e. tail paint
What does pregnancy rate refer to in the dairy industry?
Pregnancy rate refers to the proportion of eligible cows that have become pregnant within a 21-day period
How do you calculate pregnancy rate?
Pregnancy rate = (number of animals pregnant / number of animals eligible to be served) x 100
What is the target pregnancy rate within the dairy industry?
21%
What does calving to first service interval refer to in the dairy industry?
Calving to first service interval is the number of days from when a cow calves until her first service
What is the target calving to service interval within the dairy industry?
70 days
What are the advantages of natural service within the cattle industry?
- No requirement for oestrus detection as the bull’s natural instinct is to identify and mate with cows in heat (oestrus)
- Minimal animal handling required
What are the disadvantages of natural service within the cattle industry?
Risk of injury to the bull
Presence of bull increases risk of injury to the farm workers
Increased risk of infectious disease transmission
What are the advantages of aritificial insemination (AI) within the cattle industry?
Select for favourable genetics (more reliable estimated breeding values EBVs)
Safer (no bull required)
No risk of infectious disease transmission
Synchronise insemination
What are the disadvantages of aritificial insemination (AI) within the cattle industry?
More management required
Increased costs
Storage facilities required
What data would you use to advise a farmer as to which bull they should used to serve their cows?
Estimated breeding value (EBV)
Refer back to genetics flashcards