Bovine: Pregnancy and Parturition Flashcards
When does a cow reach peak lactation?
2 weeks post-partum
What is the timeline for pregnancy checks?
Check for pregnancy at 30 days Check at 60 and 90 days to make sure she’s still pregnant
What are the 4 cardinal signs of pregnancy?
Fetal membrane slip
Amniotic vesicle
Placentomes
Fetus
How many of the cardinal signs of pregnancy must be present to call a cow pregnant?
At least 1
What is the landmark during trans-rectal palpation when doing a pregnancy check?
Cervix
Which of the cardinal signs of pregnancy is the earliest indicator of cow far along the cow is? When can it be palpated?
Diameter of amniotic vesicle 32-35 days
What is the palpable turbulence of the middle uterine artery that can be used to assist in gestational aging?
Fremitus
What is necessary for thorough examination of open tracts and early pregnancies (up to 90 days)?
Retraction of the uterus
What is the earliest sign of pregnancy? When is it palpable?
Membrane slip 30-90 days
When can placentomes first be palpated? How many must you palpate before coming to a conclusion and why?
80-90 days At least 3 to make sure you are not feeling ovaries
When can the fetus be palpated?
55-65 days
When does fetal descent begin? When is it complete? When does ascent begin and finish?
Descent: starts 70 days, finishes 150 days
Ascent: starts 210 days, finish 240 days
Which of the following is not a supportive sign of pregnancy?
Asymmetry of uterine horns
Thickening and tone of uterine wall
Fixation of cervix
Fremitus of middle uterine artery
Presence of CL
Thickening and tone of uterine wall
Correct= THINNING and tone of uterine wall
If a cow is pregnant in the left horn what side is the CL on?
Left
How can you differentiate the iliac artery from the middle uterine artery?
The iliac artery is immovable MUA is movable in the broad ligament
When is estimating the age of the fetus most accurate?
1st half of gestation
Aggressive membrane slip may terminate the pregnancy via _____ release.
PGF2a (Prostaglandin)
When can pregnancy be diagnosed via ultrasound? When can gender be determined with this modality?
24 days
Gender: 55-80 days
During palpation you notice one uterine horn is larger and has a softer tone, can you determine the cow is pregnant?
No, need one of the 4 cardinal signs of pregnancy
When can a Bovine Pregnancy Specific Protein B test detect pregnancy?
30 days after breeding
Why is testing for progesterone not a good option for pregnancy diagnosis?
It only indicates a CL, not a pregnancy
Which hormone is most prominent during estrus?
a. Progesterone b. Testosterone c. GnRH d. Estrogen
d. Estrogen
What hormone is most prominent during diestrus? a. Progesterone b. Testosterone c. GnRH d. Estrogen
a. Progesterone
What behaviors indicate sexual receptivity (i.e. estrus) of a female?
Standing to be mounted
Increased restlessness
Bellowing
What breeding method, natural or AI, has a higher chance of resulting in conception?
Natural breeding
At what age are heifers usually bred?
14-15 months
What occurs during the voluntary waiting period? How long is this usually?
Time period after calving in which cow will not be bred
60 days (45-65d)
What are the 2 aspects of the open period in a dairy cow’s life?
Voluntary waiting period
Breeding period
What is a fresh cow?
A cow that has just had a calf
What is the computer generated graph called used for estrus detection, especially on small farms?
Q-sum graph