Breeding Soundness Exam Flashcards
Why do you want to perform a breeding soundness exam in a bull?
- You want a bull that is healthy and can impregnate all the cows
What are the four parts that make up a bull BSE?
- Physical exam
- Minimum scrotal circumference based on age –> how many cows a bull can deal with during a breeding season
- Minimum progressive motility of 30%
- Minimum of 70% morphologically normal cells
What do you want to make sure a bull can do before you do a BSE?
- That he can see –> be able to recognize cows
- That he can jump/ mount
T/ F
Test mating is included in a BSE
False!
It is not included in a BSE, but can be included if he has a history of infertility
What are some options for permanent IDs?
Metal ear tag Tattoo Hot brand Freeze brand Horn brand EID --> allows you to monitor and follow them
Why must you be aware of body condition score of a bull during BSE?
- Bulls typically lose 1 body condition score mark during the mating season –> have them be a little heavier
What happens when a lateral claw grows too long?
- “Spiral claw” where the lateral claw grows into the medial claw, causing lameness
How do you perform an exam on the external genitalia?
- Methodically palpate the :
Testes - symmetrical, firm (flexed forearm), cooler temp
Epididymis - symmetrical, water “balloon consistency”, sperm granulomas (very hard)
Pampiniform plexus - fluid, nodules
Scrotum - pendulous
What is the minimum amount of time you need to wait before you decide to castrate your bull?
- 2 years –> amount of time it take for the scrotum to fully develop
What does the prostate feel like in the bull?
- ” A wedding ring on a giant’s finger”
What does the seminal vesicles feel like in the bull?
- Saponified fat or grape clusters
- Should be soft and symmetrical
What are some semen collection methods?
- Electro-ejaculator –> most common
- Manual massage –> use on young bulls or bulls that can’t use EE
- AV collection –> exclusively used at bull stud operations
How do you rank gross motility of sperm?
- Very good, good, acceptable, poor (can’t use)
How long does spermatogenensis take in bulls?
~62 days
Why would an animal be deferred on a final classification?
- The bull may be treated for a disease that may still need to resolve
Do fibrocartilaginous increase in size or length?
Length not width due to the corpus spongiosum
Why are penile papillomas/ warts an issue sometimes?
- A wart can block the urethra
- To remove, place a catheter, give local anesthetic, remove wart
What is a penile hair ring?
- An accumulation of hair around penis that is harmless, but may cause necrosis if severe
- Remove with scissors
What is a persistent frenulum?
- An incomplete separation of penis and prepuce
- Potentially problematic if bull offspring will be used for breeding
- Usually no problem if bull offspring used for food
What is the difference between bos indicus and bos taurus cattle?
- Bos indicus have much more skin all around, including the prepuce, which leads to problems
How does a preputial laceration occur?
- During copulation, the bull lacerates the prepuce on the during the last thrust
- Laceration will heal transversely and not look good
- Seen mostly in bos indicus breeds
What is the prognosis of preputial lacerations?
- Guarded
How can you medically treat preputial lacerations?
- Conservative: debride, emollient ointment = “Petercillin”
How do you surgically treat preputial laceration?
- Resection and anastomosis “gold standard”
- Amputate affected prepuce
How will you have a successful PL recovery?
- Must sexually rest for 60-120 days –> may not guarantee full recovery
What does penile hematomas look like?
Symmetrical swelling around the prepuce
What is the medical treatment for penile hematoma?
- Sexual rest for 60 days
- Broad spectrum ABs
- Want the body to resorbed the clot
Generally, how do you want to treat penile deviations?
- Either lengthen or shorten the apical ligament
