Cow Infertility

Question 1

What are the 4 stages of reproductive failure?

Answer 1

Failure to ovulate
Failure of fertilization
Embryonic Death
Fetal Death

Question 2

How would you approach a diagnostic work-up for infertility in cattle?

Answer 2

1. Rule out the Male (BSE)
2. History/Problem: Determine Herd vs Individual (Estrus detection, female not preg, heat after thought preg, prolonged calving season) (records/timing/sperm handling) - what vaccine, percent effected, signs, husbandry, time of year, stressors
   3.

Question 3

What are some common infectious causes of infertility?

Answer 3

Campylobacter, Tritrichomnais, Nephroum Cainis, Bovine Herpes Virus, Mycoplasma, Leptospirosis, Histophius somnus, BVD

Question 4

What are some common non-infectious causes of infertility?

Answer 4

BCS, Nutrition, stress, heat, vitamin and mineral deficiency, congenital defect (free martin), age, parity, breed, BCS, Season, bull issue, freemartins, cysts, pseudohermaphrodites

Question 5

Terminology:
Infertility:
Early Embryonic Death:
Late Embryonic Death:
Fetal Death/Abortion
Still Born:

Answer 5

Infertility: failure of fertilization (normal cycle)
Early Embryonic Death: <16 days (normal ccyle) (Just looks like infertility)
>16 d abnormal cycle
Late Embryonic Death: 30-42 (abnormal cycle)
Abortion: 40 days and up
Still Birth - never took its 1st breath

Question 6

When is maternal recognition of pregnancy?

Answer 6

15-17 days

Question 7

What is the “im pregnant” signal

Answer 7

Interferon tau

Question 8

When do over 80% of embryonic deaths occur?

Answer 8

Early embryonic Loss (before day 17) - look like infertility

Question 9

Why do we palpate around 30 days, then recheck at 60 and then let it be after? Why arent we worried they loose the baby?

Answer 9

<6% repro failures occur after 1st month of gestation

Question 10

Why do high lactating dairy cows struggle to get pregnant again?

Answer 10

Low progesterone levels (loose most at day 1-7)

Question 11

What does calving distribution look like when it is a female issue?

Answer 11

Low initial pregnancy, continues low and have high percent open at end

Question 12

What are the goals for the following parameters?
Days open:
Calving interval
Days to 1st service
Conception 1st service
Heat detection:
Repro culls:
Abortion

Answer 12

Days open: 115
Calving interval 13 months
Days to 1st service 75
Conception 1st service 55%
Heat detection: 70%
Repro culls: <8%
Abortion <5%

Question 13

What is a “repeat breeder”?

Answer 13

Any cow that has not conceived after 3 or more services

Question 14

What secondary disease does trichomoniasis cause?

Answer 14

Post-coital pyometra

Question 15

What causes the EED in campylobacteriosis?

Answer 15

Local Inflammation

Question 16

With an infection of mycoplasma what is the cause of infertility?

Answer 16

Reluctance to breed, prevention from embryo implanting

If breeds can pass to the male

Question 17

Is mycoplasma a treatable venereal disease?

Answer 17

Yes, antibiotics

Question 18

What are some clinical signs of Bovine Herpes Virus? How is it treated?

Answer 18

Male: Infectious balanoposthitis
Female: pustular vulvovaginitis, endometritis and oophoritis

Spontaneous recovery 2 weeks

Question 19

Which Leptospirosis serovar is associated with infertility? Do all vaccines cover it?

Answer 19

Hardjo (cow Maintenace host)
NO

Question 20

How do you diagnose lepto?

Answer 20

Serology on dam, abortions, urine PCR

Question 21

What’s the treatment for lepto?

Answer 21

Antibiotics, vax

Question 22

How does Histophilus somnus cause infertility?

Answer 22

Attachment to zona pellucida of intact embryo

Question 23

Describe Endometritis

Answer 23

Inflammation of endometrium
-After parturition, copulation, AI
Not usually systemic
Decreased 1st service preg
Diagnose: palpation, culture, cytology - >18% neutrophils (20-33d postpartum)
Treat: time and antibiotics

Question 23

When a cow has infection of BVD at breeding what occurs?

Answer 23

Decrease conception rate and embryonic loss

Question 24

Describe Pyometra

Answer 24

Voluminous intraluminal fluuid of medium echogenisity, persistent CL
30 day preg check
TX Prostaglandin and time
occur due to dystocia or AI trauma
Retained fetus

Question 25

Mucometra or Hydrometra

Answer 25

Accumulation sterile anechoic fluid in uterine lumen
Not associated with pregnancy
-Complete hymen or tubal blockage in heifer, cervical trauma dystocia
-Diary goats

Question 26

What type of cancer likes the uterus?

Answer 26

Lymphosarcoma (BLV)

Question 27

What causes and ovarian cyst?

Answer 27

Persistent anovulatory follicular structure (lack LH surge when reach right size)

Treat with GNRH or CIDR

Question 28

What is an environmental cause of infertiltiy?

Answer 28

Heat stress (Hard to detect estrus)

Question 29

What are some toxins that contribute?

Answer 29

Phytoestrogens, endophyte- infected tall fescue

Question 30

Which vitamins and mineral deficiencies contribute to infertility?

Answer 30

Cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, phosphorus, selenium and molybdenum

Question 31

What is a condition cause by heterosexual twins and what hormone is the female exposed to that causes her to develop her repro tract?

Answer 31

Free Martin
Antimullerian Hormone

Question 32

What is white heifer disease?

Answer 32

Segmental aplasia of paramesonephric ducts (shorthorns)