Male BSE Flashcards
Fertility of the bull is much (more/less) important than any individual female?
more
why are BSEs crucial to a successful breeding program? (2)
- Determine a male’s potential to breed in a natural service situation.
- Utilize BSE data to improve fertility traits through genetic selection
when should BSE be done
- Purchase for breeding (SIRE SELECTION)
- Investigation of subfertility after breeding season (suspect the male side)
classifications as breeding prospect
-Satisfactory,
-Classification Deferred/(questionable),
-Unsatisfactory Potential Breeder
components of the BSE of the male (5)
- History & Physical Examination
-> Physically sound, able to see, hear, smell, eat, walk, bear weight on his back legs and good BCS - Reproductive Tract Examination
-> a. External: scrotum, testes & spermatic cord (fluid, fibrotic tissue, size, symmetry, shape, and texture). Penis &prepuce (inflammation, adhesions, warts)
-> b. Internal: Accessory glands - Scrotal Circumference
- Semen evaluations ( PMS% and morphology)
- Extras (Libido, specific infectious or genetic diseases.. As needed)
what is scrotal circumference an indicator of
Indicator of daily sperm production, onset of puberty
as testicular size ____, the probability of a bull being a satisfactory breeder ______
increases, increases
is scrotal circumference heritable
yes, highly
a bulls scrotal circumference has high correlations with what? (2)
- His son’s SC
- His heifers’ fertility (age at first breeding/calving, pregnancy rates)
what should scrotal circumference be for stallions at 2-3yrs, 4-6yrs, and more than 7 years old?
- 2-3 yrs > 81 mm
- 4-6 yrs > 85 mm
- 7 yrs > 95 mm
scrotal circumference for rams; 70kg vs 110kg
Rams >70 kg - > 30 cm SC
Rams > 110 kg- > 36 cm SC
what is a common issue of the accessory glands? wgere is it location, evaluate based on what and what abnormalities can be found
- Common issue : Seminal vesiculitis.
- Location: Lobulated at pelvic urethra.
- Evaluation: texture and size on
palpation. - Abnormalities: Asymmetry, abscesses adhesions, fibrosis and pain signs
protool of BSE of the male (5)
- Initial Observations:
- Collect the bull’s history.
- Observe conformation, gait, and overall appearance from a distance.
- Record identification and note any visible issues. - Chute Examination:
- Check identification (tag, tattoo, or brand).
- Examine eyes, head, front claws, and record observations. - Physical Examination (Side View) :
- Palpate testicles and measure scrotal circumference (SC).
- Check prepuce and hind feet for abnormalities - Physical Examination (Rear View) :
- Examine back, hind legs, and hock joints.
- Transrectal palpation to assess pelvic area and accessory glands
- Note abnormalities or pain responses. - Semen Collection:
- Massage seminal vesicles then Insert Electroejaculator (erection and protrusion)
- Examine prepuce and penis for abnormalities.
- Collect and analyze semen microscopically. - Post-Examination :
- Observe the bull leaving the chute for signs of lameness.
- Record all findings systematically following a standard protocol
requirements for the different classifications of the BSE (satisfactory vs unsatisfactory vs deferred vs questionable)
- Satisfactory potential breeder (fertile)
-> Passed a physical exam.
-> Met the minimum requirements for scrotal circumference based on his age/breed
-> Has at least 30% (SFT) or (60%) WCABP progressive sperm motility.
-> Produces at least 70 % normal sperm. - Unsatisfactory potential breeder (sub-fertile or sterile).
->The male couldn’t permanently pass at least one of the four components of the BSE.
->It is not recommended to use these males as sires. - Deferred.
->The male couldn’t temporally pass at least one of the four components (could be resolved)
->A “deferred” male should be rechecked later. - Questionable: WCABP, when male slightly below the thresholds
methods of semen collection
Electroejaculation, Artificial Vagina, Manual Stimulation, Chemical (sedation)
two ways to evaluate semen
- Sperm Motility
* Progressive (Forward) moving sperm compared to those immotile/other forms of motility. - Sperm Morphology: Normal sperm %
* Primary Abnormalities; sperm production in the testes.
* Secondary Abnormalities; sperm transport in the epididymis.
* At least 70% normal sperm is required for satisfactory quality
libido and BSE; heritable? what does it affect/not affect
- Desire to mate, considered highly
heritable. - Libido affects the breeding season
success. However, BSE don’t predict
libido - Males passing BSE may have poor libido; males with good libido may fail BSE
effect of social dominance and BSE
- Hierarchy in multiple-sire herds.
- Dominant bulls may service more cows than subordinate ones.
- Dominant bulls with poor semen quality can lower herd pregnancy rates.
- Increased risk of bulls’ injuries, Multiple bulls breed the same female.
- Avoid mixing young (yearling) bulls with older, mature bulls.
- Separate cows into breeding groups with similarly-aged sires
components of a satisfactory stallion (4)
- Free from undesirable or potentially heritable defects, behavioral issues, or transmissible diseases (venereal or otherwise).
- Must not have any physical traits that could hinder their mating ability, semen quality, or sperm production.
- Ejaculate at least 1 × 10 progressively motile, morphologically normal sperm in the⁹ second of two ejaculates collected an hour apart after a week of sexual rest.
- Pregnancy rate 75% of 40 mares bred naturally 120 mares bred AI
purpose/criteria of evaluation of the scrotum
- Evaluated for shape, positioning, and size.
- To ensure good thermoregulation, the scrotum should suspend both testicles in a relatively symmetrical, pendulous manner.
- The scrotal neck should be relatively narrow and free of inclusions (e.g. fat, intestines)
what are some issues that can be identified during evaluation of scrotal contents?
-abnormal swelling, conformation
-small size
-abnormal carriage, conformation
-skin inflammation or discolouration
what to look at when evaluating the testicles and epididymes (6)
- Presence – are there two?
- Size and Shape – for species
- Consistency – firm and smooth
- Mobility – freely mobile within the
scrotum - Uniformity – are both similar
- Ultrasound appearance
testicular issues you might encounter
-incomplete descent
-abnormal size
-marked asymmetry
-abnormal shape
-reduced mobility
epididymal issues you might encounter
-swelling
-abnormal position
-partial or complete absence
penile issues you might encounter
-problems with erection/ejaculation
-problems with protrusion
-problems with retraction
-bleeding, inflammation, swelling, ulceration
-pain on palpation
-abnormal erection
-abnormal growths, masses
-abnormal urination
penile hematoma in the bull; how it happens, treatment
- Bulls breeding naturally
- Rupture of the tunica albuginea due to sudden bending (usually movement of the cow during breeding)
- Escape of blood from CCP into elastic layers of penis
- Location of swelling – immediately in front of scrotum
treatment
* Medically – 60 days sexual rest,
hydrotherapy, NSAIDS (50% of bulls return to service)
* Surgery ?
* Chance of abscess, adhesions or vascular shunt formation
diagnosis of preputial injury in bulls
- Bulls in AI centers – injury during
collection – or bulls in natural breeding program - If acute, present with preputial prolapse, dripping blood, swelling +/- phimosis
- Rarely present acutely unless in A.I.
centre - If chronic may present for inability to protrude penis from sheath – due to adhesions
what causes penile deviation in bulls? what can it look like
cause = abnormalities of the apical ligament
-Ligament Too long – ventral deviation
-Ligament Too short (very rare) – S-shaped deviation
-Cannot maintain ligament in normal position – spiral deviation
squamous cell carcinoma in stallions and geldings; presentation, diagnosis, association, treatment
- Stallions and geldings - presenting complaint – swollen sheath and foul odor
- Diagnosis – biopsy
- Associated with equine papilloma virus-2
- Treatment – excision of masses, cryotherapy
- Slow and late to metastasize but check regional lymph nodes
treatment of preputial and penile injuries in stallions
- Emergencies!
- Aim is to reduce swelling and return penis to sheath
- Massage and use of Esmarch bandage
- Sling support
- Hydrotherapy
- Emollient dressing
- Systemic Anti-inflammatories
priapism; assocaited with what, treatment, prognosis
- Associated with administration of
phenothiazine tranquilizers - Can result in paraphimosis due to
effects of gravity - Treatment – if acute treat as previous with sling, anti-inflammatories etc.
- Benztropine mesylate IV
- Lavage of Corpus cavernosum
- If chronic can result in penile paralysis due to pudendal nerve damage, and penile fibrosis with poor prognosis
- Penile amputation required
