Cattle infertility 1+2 (Fertility, sub-fertility and infertility in the cow) Flashcards
What is a ‘sub-fertile’ cow?
one that fails to achieve its fertility target, or that of the herd/group
What is an infertile cow?
either a ‘sub-fertile’ cow or a sterile cow
Is cow fertility changing?
Yes - lactating cow fertility is decreasing, heifer fertility increasing, milk yield per lactation is increasing
What is the relationship between milk yield and fertility?
increasing mil yield –> decreased fertility
What are 4 broad causes of cattle sub-fertility?
structural
functional
management
infectious
What are signs of sub-fertility?
no observed oestrous
regular or irregular returns to oestrous (after service/AI)
abnormal vulval discharge
abortion and stillbrith
When should a cow cycle?
every 18-24 days unless pregnant or within 4-6 weeks post-partum
Reasons for no observed oestrous…
congenital abnormalities (ovarian aplasia/hypoplasia, freemartininism)
acyclical or anoestrous
ovarian cysts
no-limited behavioural signs of oestrous (known as a sub-oestrous or silent heat)
poor heat detection
Reasons for no observed oestrous in heifers
ovarian aplasia/hypoplasia - v rare - autosomal recessive gene with incomplete penetrance]
Freemartins (due to vascular fusion) - never cycle, small vestigial tract with no ovaries
Dx = by ‘test tube’ or ‘thermometer case’ into vagina (reaches 2-3cm in a freemartin, or about 10cm in a normal animal) and confirmed by karyotype testing
Outline freemartinism
92% heifers that are co-twins to bull calves are freemartins.
BE AWARE of single born female freemartins born where the bull calf has died after vascular fusion (i.e. common chorioallantoic sac, separate amnion)
What are the causes of no observed oestrous in COWS?
anoestrous or true acyclicity COD Persistent CL Pyometra + persistent CL sub-oestrous failure to detect oestrous
Causes of anoestrous of true acyclicity?
high mil yields inadequate nutrition (especially energy) poor BCS stress (lameness, intercurrent disease)
What are the clinical signs of anoestrous or true acyclicity?
rectal palpation shows involuted tract (ovaries feel small, smooth, flat)
ultrasound shows follicles <1.5cm, no CL
milk P4 at 10 day intervals is low (i.e. sequential)
How does inadequate nutrition influence fertility?
Inadequate nutrition –> reduced IGF-1 production –> this has 4 main effects:
HYPOTHALAMUS - low GnRH, decreased negative feedback to OE
PITUITARY - decreased LH and FSH secretion, decreased response to GnRH
OVARY - decreased granulosa proliferation and differentiation, decreased aromatase activity, decreased luteal activity and steroidogenesis
EMBRYO - decreased embryo growth, decreased IFNy production
How do you treat anoestrous or true acyclicity?
Wait until milk yield falls or cow returns to PEB: increase energy intake if possible
HORMONES: GnRH/analogue, PRID/CIDR +/- GnRH or eCG at a low dose (750 IU)
Better response if nutrition improved concurrently.
What do CIDR and PRID devices look like?
CIDR = y shaped PRID = spiral shape
What can be behind fluid-filled structures in bovine ovaries? 5
NORMAL: follicles or vacuolated CL
ABNORMAL: luteinised follicles, follicular and inactive cysts, luteal cysts
Describe a follicle:
feeling
size
Transient, dynamic, soft, fluctuant
Maximum 1.5-2cm diameter during or just after oestrous
<1.5cm diameter for rest of cycle
associated with normal cyclical acitivity
Describe a vacuolated CL:
feeling/appearance
occurence
same size as non-vacuolated CLs with ovulation point, identifiable with ultrasound vacuole disappears in pregnancy usually single occurs in about 25% ovulations associated with normal cyclical activity
Describe a luteinised follicle:
size
occurrence/when
<2.5cm diameter no sign of ovulation larger cavity than vacuolated CL usually single formed from anovulatory mature follicle occur early post-partum
Describe follicular and inactive cysts
appearance
when
soft, thin-walled (2.5cm diamter single or multiple one or both ovaries formed from anovulatory mature follicle low P4, cows are anoestorus
Describe luteal cysts:
appearance
when
Thick-walled (>3mm), fluid-filled structure, >2.5cm diamter
usually single
formed from anovulation of mature follicle
high P4, cows are anoestrous
What are the main differences between a mature follicle and ovarian cysts?
Mature follicle: 2.5cm, persists >10 days. (opinions vary about the presence or absence of a CL concurrently) –> aberrant reproductive function.
What do ovarian cysts develop from?
Develop from anovulatory Graafian follicles which instead of ovulating or regressing, the granulosa cell layer degenerates, with cessation of normal cyclical activity with the cow becomes either acyclical or nyphmaniacal
What is nyphomania?
where the cow shows persistent oestrous (several days) OR comes into oestrous every 7-8 days and this oestrous lasts longer than normal oestrous (i.e. >18 hours)
What are the different types of cyst? 3
TRUE FOLLICULAR: thin-walled, oestradiol-secreting
LUTEAL: thick-walled, progesterone-secreting
INACTIVE: thin-walled, functionally undifferentiated inactive (clinically similar to luteal cyst but structurally more similar to a true follicular cyst - i.e. thin-walled)
Which cyst type is associated with anoestrous? Why?
Luteal - because of P4 negative feedback
What do thin-walled follicular cysts result in?
acyclicity or, less frequently, nyphomania
What do thick-walled luteal or luteinised cysts result in?
acyclicity due to negative feedback of P4 on the anterior pituitary.
What is an increasing problem in high yielders?
acyclicity (rather than nyphomania)
What is normal follicular growth for a cow?
usually 2 follicular waves with the 3rd –> dominant follicle –> ovulation. This is a ‘3 wave follicular cycle’.
Some cows have a 2 wave follicular cycle. An even smaller % cows have a 4 wave follicular cycle.
Why does ovulation occur?
Mature dominant follicle –> increased secretion of oestradiol –> LH surge
Why do cysts occur - broad categories?
hypothalamic/pituitary causes
ovarian causes
What are hypothalamic/pituitary causes of cysts?
Due to failure of the normal pre-ovulatory LH surge after the end of the recovery period. This may be because of a lack of sensitivity of hypothalamic LH surge centre to oestradiol OR failure of GnRH release.
THUS IT IS A FAILURE OF OESTRADIOL TO ELICIT A NORMAL POSITIVE FEEDBACK STIMULATION OF LH SURGE.