Cattle Reproduction Flashcards
What is the length of a cow oestrus cycle?
21 days
What continues to produce progesterone after ovulation?
Corpus luteum
What are the Cotyledons?
What are the Caruncles?
The foetal side of the placenta
The maternal side of the placenta
What shape are placetomes in the cow and sheep?
Cow: Convex
Sheep: Concave (doughnuts)
In which ovary do 60% of ovulations occur?
Right
How long does involution of the uterus take?
3-4 weeks
How does resumption of cyclicity after calving occur?
2 weeks post-partum FSH increases, which stimulates the first follicular wave
What does suckling do?
Inhibits resumption of cyclic activity
What is the gold standard for oestrus detection?
Progesterone monitoring (blood test every day)
What time period is a retained foetal membrane classed as in a cow?
Over 12 hours after delivery of the calf
What are the 3 consequences of uterine infections?
- Damage uterus
- Suppress hypothalmic GnRH and pituitary LH secretion
- Localised effects on ovarian function
What are 4 main pathogens involved in uterine infections?
Are they gram +ve or -ve
- E. coli (-ve)
- Truperella pyogenes (+ve)
- Dichelobacter nodosus
- Fusobacterium necrophorum (-ve)
What is the biggest risk factor of uterine bacterial infection?
RFM
What is metritis?
Abnormal enlargement of uterus and purulent vaginal discharge within 21 days of parturition
What are the grades of metritis?
1: Enlarged uterus and purulent discharge but no pyrexia/illness
2. Systemic illness and pyrexia
3. Toxaemia
What is the treatment for pyometra?
PGF (Prostaglandin F2 alpha)
How do you differentiate between metritis and endometritis?
Metritis is within 21 days of calving
Endometritis is 21 days or MORE after calving
What are the 3 biggest effects on fertility?
i.e. days from calving to pregnancy
- Caesarean
- Lameness
- Endometritis
What are two clinical signs of cystic ovarian disease?
When is it most common?
- Nymphomania
- Anoestrus
< 60 DIM
How does Cystic Ovarian Disease affect milk production?
High milk production
What are the main differences between follicular and luteal cysts?
Follicular cysts are thin walled and fluid filled
Luteal cysts are thick walled and may have trabeculae inside
Follicular cysts are larger in diameter than luteal
How do follicular cysts cause continuous oestrus?
Produce oestrodial (oestrogen)
What is the best way to treat COD if unsure what type of cyst is present?
What should you do if the cow comes into oestrus after treatment?
Progesterone device (PRID/CIDR)
DONT inseminate, oocyst will be old or unhealthy
Wait for next cycle
What is so important about Brucellosis?
How is it monitored?
It is zoonotic and reportable
Monthly routine bulk milk sampling
What are 5 non-infectious causes of abortion?
- NEB
- Selenium deficiency
- Iodine deficiency
- Alfatoxins
- Nitrite/nitrate toxicity
What cell type does BVD target?
What does this cause?
Neuroglial cells
Cerebellar hypoplasia
How can primary abortive agents cause abortion?
Damages placenta and foetus, allowing invasion of opportunistic pathogens
How do secondary (opportunistic) pathogens cause abortion?
Prostaglandin synthesis
Prostaglandin inhibits progesterone
Progesterone maintains pregnancy, without it luteolysis occurs
What are the three routes of infection for abortive agents?
- Commensal flora of reproductive tract
- Transplacental
- Haematogenous
How does the complexity of the antigen produced by abortive pathogens affect foetal antibody response?
The more complex the antigen, the more time it takes for the foetus to recognise the antigen as “non-self” and mount an immune response (antibody production)
What is the most commonly diagnosed cause of abortion?
Which groups of animals are at highest risk?
Neospora
Congenitally infected heifers in first gestation
What virus causes IBR?
BHV-1
How does horizontal and vertical transmission of Neospora occur?
Horizontal (exogenous)
Ingestion oocyts, naive animals, abortion storms
Vertical (daughter-daughter)
Slow succession
What is the most common outcome of Neospora infection during gestation?
Birth of clinically normal persistently infected calf
What is cytopathic BVD associated with?
Mucosal disease in PI animals
What type of virus is BVD?
Pestivirus