Male Breeding Soundness Exam Flashcards
What are 6 important parts of the male genital tract?
- testes - seminiferous tubules and collecting duct suspended by spermatic cord and cremaster muscle
- epididymis
- spermatic cord - vas deferens, pampiniform plexus (controls BP and temperature)
- accessory sex glands - ampullae, seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral gland
- penis and prepuce
- hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
What species does this genital tract belong to?
bull - sigmoid flexure, testicle position
What species does this genital tract belong to?
dog - bulbus glandis
Male accessory sex glands based on species:
What are the 2 types of penises? What species have each?
FIBROELASTIC SIGMOID = high BP, commonly injures female, stretches
- ruminant, boar, camel
VASCULAR = engorges
- dog, cat, stallion
Where do the different species deposit semen?
- VAGINA = ruminant, dog, cat
- UTERUS = stallion, camel
- CERVIX = boar
How often should bulls get a BSE? What are 3 important parts of the exam? What is not evaluated?
every bull, every year 30-60 days before breeding season - not goof for life
- PE - exam at a distance, BCS (6-7/9), penis, prepuce
- scrotal circumference
- semen evaluation - motility, morphology
libido
What are 4 characteristics of a satisfactory potential breeder? What animals are classified as deferred?
- free of physical abnormalities that would affect fertility
- scrotal circumference at or above the minimum for age (indicative of sperm #)
- sperm motility >30%
- proportion of normal sperm >70%
cannot be rated as satisfactory, but are likely to improve with time and/or therapy
What are 3 important parts of the physical exam for bulls getting a BSE?
- EYES - epiphora, blepharospasm, ulcers, SCC
- FEET and LEGS - cracks/wear on claws, interdigital space, joints
- PENS and PREPUCE - swelling, hair rings, penile warts (BPV), persistent penile frenulum (heritable!)
How is the scrotum examined in a bovine BSE? What is scrotal circumference correlated to? How is it measured?
- shape
- symmetry
- consistency
- dermatitis
- scars
- swelling, edema –> common in hot conditions
semen production
push both testes down into the scrotum by applying gentle pressure at the scrotal neck and use flexible tape at the position with the largest circumference
In what 2 ways can bovine semen collection be performed?
- electroejaculation - application of low-level electrical stimulation to the nerves responsible for erection, ejaculation, and emission, must evacuate feces to allow contact between probe and rectal mucosa
- artificial vagina - commercial bull stud, quiet non-estrous cow, or estrogen-tested steer
What is indicative of vesiculitis on palpation?
loss of lobulation
What are 5 characteristics of a satisfactory equine BSE? What is this designed for?
- free of physical abnormallities
- good libido - electroejaculation not used
- semen and urethral bacterial culture not consistent with infection
- negative for sexually-transmitted bacteria
- produce a minimum of 1 billion motile, morphologically normal sperm in two ejaculates collected one hour apart
stallions breeding 40 mares by natural service or 120 mares by AI
How is scrotal width measured in stallions? What is it related to?
calipers or U/S
size is related to daily sperm output (DSO) –> collection for 7-8 days until numbers are stable or as part of the 2 collections in the BSE
When is daily sperm output in stallions highest?
sping/summer —> DSO should be at least 1x10^9 any month