Bovine Flashcards
Define a fertile bull
Impregnate naturally 60% and 90% in normal females in 3 and 9 weeks
Define sub-fertile bull
Can impregnate naturally but below fertile levels. Or, cant impregnate naturally but can by AI
Define infertile bull
Cannot achieve pregnancies
What to check for on physical exam
Lesions, congenital defects, papillomas, persistent frenulums, posthitis
What is a fibropapilloma?
A penile wart that self resolves with sexual rest
What is balanoposthitis
Due to BHV
What could swelling of the prepuce be caused by?
Penile haematoma (rupture of tunica albuginea), cellulitis (laceration on prepuce with penile oedema), trauma, ruptured urethra
How do we treat preputial prolapse?
Systemic AB, anti-inflammatories, hydrotherapy, topical antibiotics
Surgery
What is part of a conformation exam?
Legs, joints, head, length of prepuce, sheath structure/score
what do we report about swollen joints in young bulls?
Q or F classification
Re-evaluate if necessary
Avoid growing bulls too rapidy between 6-12 months
What do we examine with the scrotum?
Measure and palpate - puberty >27cm
Circumference -> outside 90% CI for breed and weight may indicate fertility issues
If close to threshold - may be right as he grows so record as Q and retest
What is scrotal circumference related to?
Daily sperm production
High semen quality
Onset of pubery in heifers and bulls
Pregnancy rate
What do we assess semen for?
Motility + mass activity
Volume and concentration
Colour, texture + contaminants
What progressive motility % is a fail or a pass?
Fail <30%
Pass >60%
What concentration is a fail or pass?
Fail <200 million/ml
Pass >200 million/ml
How do we examine progressive motility?
Dilute - recommend using pipette to draw into Eppendorf tube with phosphate buffered saline and examine at 100x
How do we assess libido?
Serving ability test - 10 minute test record successful services
Restrain females in breeding crates and 10 min stimulation of bulls first, then 10 minutes of serving
Record interest, mounts (not including serves), serves
at least 1 serve = pass
How do we assess semen morphology?
High power microscopy
Use stained smear or preserved in formol buffered saline (examine under phase contrast)
Examine at 1000X and count 100
Need at least 70% normal sperm
How long is spermatogenesis?
61 days -> 13.5d for one cycle and need 4.5 cycles for spermatogenesis
What is the epididymal transport time in bulls?
11-14 days
When does puberty occur in cows?
8-19 months
What influences onset of puberty?
Bodyweight, breed, age, nutrition, sire scrotal circumference, season of birth, management (growth implants)
What weight do we breed cows?
55-65% BW for heifers
350kg for holstein-friesian
15-20 months for dairy heifers
15 months for beef heifers
What age are bulls fertile?
10 months (not Brahman)