Bovine reproduction Flashcards
When are cattle preg checked and why do we do it
Usually in fall after breeding
Evaluate herd fertility
Bull and cow fertility
Monitor reproductive health
Disease
Approximate calving dates
Sort cows according to estimated calving dates
Reestablish a valid VCPR with vet clinic
Convenient time to booster vaccines
What do you do with open cows
Cull open cows
Save on costs maintaining open cows
Prevent disease transmission
Concentrate calving distribution
manual palpation for preg checking cattle works when
Rectal palpation
35-45 days pregnancy
Risk of pregnancy loss
Ultrasound for preg checking cattle
Rectal probe
13-21 days
1% less pregnancy loss
Twins, gestational age, sex
Not so hard on person’s shoulder joint performing it
Blood sample to preg check cattle
Producer collects blood from tail vein
Submit to lab
Producers in areas without veterinary services
What are the chances of dystocia in cattle
5% multiparous cows
10% heifers
Causes of dystocia in cattle
Maternal-fetal mismatch
Most common
Bulls with high birth weight calves
Especially when bred to heifers
Malposition
Long gestation
Under/over conditioned cattle
After amnion is present at vulva, time to calf on ground:
Cows-1 hour
Heifers– 1.5-2 hours
Whats the best choice when calving both cows and heifers
Calve heifers before cows
2-3 weeks prior
Allows better surveillance
Reduce disease transmission
Reduced colostrum quality
Calving grounds cleaner
What happens to calves that experience dystocia
Increased disease (2.4 x)
Stress
Inadequate colostrum
Increased mortality (9-18%)
How to minimize effects of dystocia on the herd of cattle
Heifers prior to cows
Proper facilities to assist
Clean dry calving area
Timely intervention
Proper resuscitation
Adequate colostrum intake
Pain control for cow/calf
Proper pen management to prevent disease transmission
Treat diseased calves quickly
When to interfere with calving
1-2 hours since appearance of amniotic sack at the vulva
Feet and nose at vulva but no progress after 30 minutes
Active labour but no amniotic sack
Soles of hooves pointing up (posterior presentation)
More than two hooves at vulva (twins, single calf with hind foot also in canal)
Feet only no nose at vulva (head back)
Tail only at vulva (breech)
What to do to help calves after dystocia
Wear gloves to protect cow AND you from disease
After delivery calf must be resuscitated
Recovery position
Straw in nose
Water in ear
Rub vigorously
Do NOT hang upside down!
Abdominal contents press on diaphragm, restrict respiration
Fluids is from stomach, not lungs
When to call a vet during calving
Breech (bum and tail only)
Uterine torsion
Not dilated
Deformed (ex. schistomosis reflexus )
Unsuccessful after 15 minutes
What can a vet do during calving
C-section if calf is alive
Fetotomy if calf is dead
Position properly if available
How to make sure cattle can do a vaginal delivery during a dystocia
Reposition calf if necessary/possible
Equipment:
Bucket with warm water
Rectal sleeves
Calving suit
Calving chains, handles, jack(puller), snare
J-lube
Don’t be too aggressive! Make decision for C-sec early
Pain medication used after a difficult calving
Administer NSAID to both calves and dam after a difficult birth
Brighter
Increased bonding
Increased colostrum intake
C-section block on cattle
Block and prep Left paralumbar fossa
Left side used as rumen helps keep intestines in abdomen as uterus and calf are exteriorized.
Block options: paravertebral, epidural
Fetotomy is and instruments used in cattle
Cut calf into smaller pieces to assist removal vaginally.
Instruments
Hand held fetotomy knife
Snare
Frick speculum if fetotome not available
+/- Scalpel
J-lube + pump and hose
Abnormal pregnancy rates in cattle
Ideally ≥95% pregnant at end of breeding season
Concerned when >6% cows, >8% heifers open at pregnancy detection
>3% abortion in cows, 6% heifers
Abortion storms in cattle can be noted by
Thorough investigation
Diet changes
Vaccination protocols
New animals introduced
Stage of gestation
Causes of abortion in cattle
Vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin E/Selenium deficiency
Poor body condition
Toxicity (Ex. Moldy sweet clover, locoweed)
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus
Bovine herpes virus
Neosporisis
Tritrichomoniasis
Leptospirosis (zoonotic)
Brucellosis (zoonotic)
Campylobacterosis (zoonotic)
Chlamydia (zoonotic)
BVDV infection in pregnant cattle can cause
Conception
Early abortion/resorption
1-4 months
Abortion, resorption, fetal defects, persistently infected (PI)
4-6 months
Ocular, CNS, bone congenital defects
Stillborn, premature/dysmature, weak
Prevention of abortion in cattle
Identifying and culling persistently infected (PI) calves
Increased biosecurity
Vaccination
