ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Successful Reproduction

Question 1

What are the three main methods of breeding animals?

Answer 1

Natural covering
Artificial insemination
Embryo transfer

Question 2

What are the roles of the vet to ensure a successful breeding season?

Answer 2

Routine disease prevention in the female and male
Optimise conception rates
Pregnancy diagnosis
Neonatal care

Question 3

Out of the common farm animals which species has the highest conception rate?

Answer 3

Pig with an 85-90% conception rate

Question 4

What is the conception rate for sheep?

Answer 4

65-80%

Question 5

How does the conception rate differ between dairy and beef cattle?

Answer 5

The conception rate for dairy cattle is 30-50% whereas for beef cattle the conception rate is 50-65%

Question 6

List six factors which can impact male fertility rates

Answer 6

Sexual drive towards females
Ability to mount
Intromission capabilities
Ejaculation capabilities
Sperm fertility
Pathogens or genetic mutations

Question 7

What is a BSE?

Answer 7

Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BBSE)

Question 8

What are the steps involved in a typical BSE evaluation?

Answer 8

General physical exam
Examination of external genitalia
Examination of internal genitalia
Semen evalualtion
Observation of libido and intromission

Question 9

What are the five main things that you should look out for when examining the external male genitalia?

Answer 9

Persistent frenulums
Phimosis
Adhesions
Hernias
Inability to obtain or sustain erection

Question 10

Give two examples of instruments that can be used for semen collection in large animals

Answer 10

Electro-ejaculator
Artificial vagina

Question 11

What is the most essential factor that needs to be maintained when carrying out semen evaluation and why?

Answer 11

A temperature or around 37°C is essential for optimal sperm motility

Question 12

Describe how semen evaluation should be carried out

Answer 12

1. Dilution of the semen with normal saline
2. Evaluate sperm motility (should be at least 30% motility)
3. Stain the sperm with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain to evaluate the morphology (should be at least 60% normal morphology)

Question 13

When collecting semen for artificial insemination, what should always be added to the sample?

Answer 13

Extender (water and buffer)
Energy source
Antibiotic

Question 14

When collecting semen for artificial insemination, if you are cooling the collected sample what should be added to it?

Answer 14

A protector such as egg yolk, casein or caprogen should be added if the sample is being cooled

Question 15

When collecting semen for artificial insemination, if you are deep freezing the collected sample what should be added to it?

Answer 15

An additional protector such as glycerol should be added if the sample is being deep freezed

Question 16

List five advantages of artificial insemination in large animals

Answer 16

1. Favourable genetics
2. Safer
3. Can use a variety of males without the costs of actually keeping them on the farm
4. Less fertility variation
5. Disease control

Question 17

List three disadvantages of artificial insemination in large animals

Answer 17

1. More management required
2. Increased costs (collection, processing etc.)
3. Storage facilities

Question 18

List three reasons castration is done in farm animals?

Answer 18

Breeding control
Increased docility
Changes in the meat quality (meat will have a higher fat content)

Question 19

What are the three different methods of castration used in farm animals?

Answer 19

Surgical castration
Burdizzo
Ring castration

Question 20

Why are rams often vasectomised?

Answer 20

Vasectomised rams can be used to increased conception rates and to bring the breeding season forward through acting as a ‘teaser’ ram to align the ewe oestrus cycles ready for when an intact, fertile ram is turned out

Question 21

Why are boars that are bred for meat killed or castrated at such a young age?

Answer 21

Because if the boar reaches sexual maturity, pheromones can result in ‘boar taint’ where the meat has a very unpleasant taste

Question 22

How could you manipulate a mares breeding season to get her to come into season earlier in the year?

Answer 22

Artificial lights (reduces melatonin production and shortens the winter anoestrus period)

Question 23

Which diseases should be tested for during a breeding soundness exam of the mare?

Answer 23

Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
Equine viral arteritis (EVA)

Question 24

How do you test for Contagious equine metritis (CEM) in the mare?

Answer 24

Take a clitoral swab

Question 25

How do you test for Equine viral arteritis (EVA) in the mare?

Answer 25

Blood sampling

Question 26

What can often happen to the vulva of aged or poor body conditioned mares?

Answer 26

The vulva can slip cranio-dorsally over the ischium leading to the loss of the airtight seal of the vulval cleft. This can lead to vaginal irritation, infection and even reduced fertility

Question 27

What can be used to correct poor conformation of the mare vulva?

Answer 27

Caslicks procedure

Question 28

Which hormones can be administered to induce ovulation in the mare?

Answer 28

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) Gonadotrophin releasing hormone

Question 29

Which hormones can be administered to synchronise a mare's oestrus cycle?

Answer 29

Progesterone Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α)

Question 30

In which breed of horse can artificial insemination and embryo transfer not be used?

Answer 30

Thoroughbred horses

Question 31

Why are thoroughbred mares often bred within the postpartum period also known as 'foal heat'?

Answer 31

Thoroughbred mares are often bred during their first oestrus cycle postpartum to improve the chances of maintaining yearly foal production

Question 32

What are some of the consequences of prolonged post-mating endometritis (longer than 48 hrs)?

Answer 32

Reduced fertility Affected embryonic attachment and survival

Question 33

What can be used to prevent prolonged post-mating endometritis?

Answer 33

Reduced contamination Post-breeding uterine lavage

Question 34

How long is the gestation period in the mare?

Answer 34

320-365 days (approx. 11 months)

Question 35

What is the most accurate method of pregnancy diagnosis in the mare?

Answer 35

Ultrasonography

Question 36

At which days of gestation should a mare be scanned for pregnancy?

Answer 36

First scan at 15 days, second scan between 25-28 days and the third scan at 34 days

Question 37

Why is ultrasonography so useful when scanning mares for pregnancy?

Answer 37

Ultrasonography allows the identification of twins very early on in the pregnancy, allowing the twin pregnancy to be rectified before there are too many complications

Question 38

What is the most common cause of abortion/stillbirth in the mare?

Answer 38

Placental dysfunction

Question 39

What are the common causes of placental dysfunction in the mare?

Answer 39

Premature separation of the foetus from the placenta Twin foals Placentitis

Question 40

What should be examined while investigating abortion in the mare?

Answer 40

Mare, foetus and placenta should all be investigated

Question 41

What is a colt?

Answer 41

An uncastrated male horse under four years of age

Question 42

What is a stallion?

Answer 42

An uncastrated male horse over four years of age

Question 43

What is a gelding?

Answer 43

A castrated male horse

Question 44

Which diseases should be tested for during a breeding soundness exam of the stallion?

Answer 44

Contagious equine metritis (CEM) Equine viral arteritis (EVA) Equine infectious anaemia (EIA)

Question 45

How do you test for Contagious equine metritis (CEM) in the stallion?

Answer 45

Urethral fossa swab

Question 46

How do you test for Equine viral arteritis (EVA) and Equine infectious anaemia in the stallion?

Answer 46

Blood sampling

Question 47

What are two signs that the stallion has ejaculated?

Answer 47

Tail flagging Pulsation at the base of the penis as ejaculate passes through the urethra

Question 48

What are the two fractions of ejaculate?

Answer 48

Gel fraction: removed by filtation and discarded Gel-free fraction: Contains majority of speramtozoa

Question 49

When performing artificial insemination of a mare what is the maximum time for the use of extended fresh semen?

Answer 49

Extended fresh semen should be used within 12 hours

Question 50

List six reasons why a male horse would be castrated?

Answer 50

Breeding control Increased docility Testicular neoplasia Testicular trauma Inguinal herniation Spermatic cordtorsion

Question 51

Why are most male horses castrated at a young age (within 1-2 years)?

Answer 51

Castration can be done at any age but it becomes more risky with age

Question 52

Why are male horses not castrated in the summer?

Answer 52

When a horse is castrated, the scrotal incision is left open and there is a higher risk of miasis (fly strike) in the summer

Question 53

How do emasculators prevent haemorrhage in horse castration?

Answer 53

Emasculators crush the testicular vessels proximally and cut distally to achieve haemostasis

Question 54

What method of castration can not be used on stallions but can be used on colts?

Answer 54

Open castration

Question 55

Which complications are at higher risk following an open castration of a horse?

Answer 55

Haemorrhage Profusion of tissue Evisceration

Question 56

What is the term 'rig' used to describe the talking about horses?

Answer 56

'Rig' is the term used to describe a cryptorchid horse that behaves like a stallion even though it has no visible testicles

Question 57

What is the most common malignant skin tumour found in the horse?

Answer 57

Squamous cell carcinoma

Question 58

Where on the horse is squamous cell carcinoma found?

Answer 58

Occular tissue Genitalia Nasal tissue Mouth

Question 59

What are some of the physical signs that a bitch is in proestrus?

Answer 59

Swollen vulva Bloody discharge

Question 60

What are some of the physical signs that a bitch is in oestrus?

Answer 60

Bloody discharge stops Bitch will 'stand' for the male

Question 61

Other than physical signs, what else can be used to determine which phase of oestrous a bitch is in?

Answer 61

Vaginal cytology

Question 62

What type of cells would you see on a vaginal smear of a bitch that was in proestrus?

Answer 62

Erythrocytes and nucleated epithelial cells

Question 63

What type of cells would you see on a vaginal smear of a bitch that was in oestrus?

Answer 63

Fewer erythrocytes and cornified epithelial cells

Question 64

What can be used to determine the time of ovulation in the bitch?

Answer 64

Progesterone levels (most often used) Luteinising hormone (LH) levels

Question 65

How would you use progesterone levels to determine when a bitch is ovulating?

Answer 65

Carry out a progesterone ELISA every two days, when progesterone levels have reached 5ng/ml, ovulation is most likely to occur

Question 66

What are the disadvantages of using luteinising hormone (LH) levels to determine when a bitch is ovulating?

Answer 66

Daily testing required Expensive Ovulation time is often missed due to the rapid LH surge

Question 67

Why is the optimal conception time for the bitch 2-5 days after ovulation?

Answer 67

After ovulation, it takes the ova a further 48 hours to fully mature into secondary ova and become fertilisable. The ova can then survive and remain fertilisable for a further 2-3 days within the female reproductive tract

Question 68

What is the most common cause of infertility in the bitch?

Answer 68

The most common cause of infertility in the bitch is mating at the wrong time

Question 69

How long can sperm survive within the female reproductive system of the bitch?

Answer 69

Sperm can survive 5-7 days

Question 70

What are some of the benefits of artificial insemination in dogs?

Answer 70

Reduced risk of disease transmission Increased gene pool Improved fertility

Question 71

What type of insemination should fresh/chilled semen be used for in the bitch?

Answer 71

Fresh/chilled semen should be used for intravaginal insemination

Question 72

What type of insemination should frozen semen be used for in the dog?

Answer 72

Frozen semen should be used for intracervical insemination

Question 73

What are the four different methods of pregnancy diagnosis that can be used in the bitch?

Answer 73

Abdominal palpation Ultrasonography Radiography Relaxin assay

Question 74

At which stage of gestation can abdominal palpation be used to diagnose pregnancy in the bitch?

Answer 74

Abdominal palpation can be used to diagnose pregnancy from 28-35 days into gestation

Question 75

At which stage of gestation can a foetal heartbeat be heard using ultrasonography in a bitch pregnancy?

Answer 75

A foetal heartbeat can be heard using ultrasonography from 24-28 days into gestation

Question 76

What is the only method of pregnancy diagnosis in the bitch that can be used to accurately determine the number of and position of the foetuses?

Answer 76

Radiography

Question 77

When can a relaxin assay be used to diagnose pregnancy in the bitch?

Answer 77

Relaxin assay can be used to diagnose pregnancy 3-4 weeks after mating has occurred

Question 78

Why do all bitches have a physiological pseudopregnancy?

Answer 78

Pseudopregnancy is due to the long luteal phase and thus increased prolactin production seen in the bitch

Question 79

What can be used to treat a prolonged pseudopregnancy in the bitch?

Answer 79

Prolactin inhibitors

Question 80

What are the three main reasons for neutering in dogs?

Answer 80

Breeding control Medical reasons Behavioural reasons

Question 81

List three reasons why a dog may not be neutered?

Answer 81

If the dog is being used for breeding Risk of behavioural changes Risks of weight gain

Question 82

Why should an elective ovariohysterectomy be carried out when the bitch is in anoestrus?

Answer 82

To prevent a prolonged state of pseudopregnancy

Question 83

What are the three main medical reasons for carrying out an ovariohysterectomy in the bitch?

Answer 83

Pyometra Ovarian neoplasia Mammary neoplasia

Question 84

What are the four main medical reasons for carrying out a castration in the male dog?

Answer 84

Prostatic hyperplasia Testicular neoplasia Perineal hernia Cysteine urolithiasis

Question 85

(T/F) There is an increased risk of prostatic neoplasia in neutered males

Answer 85

TRUE

Question 86

What is the non-surgical option used for dog castrations?

Answer 86

Subcutaneous Deslorin implant (GnRH antagonist)