Managing and Monitoring Reprod health in cattle 1 (the individual) Flashcards

1
Q

Why is fertility important for beef cattle

A
  • Important to keep to a calving interval of 365 days
  • 1 calf per cow per year
  • Tight calving windows maximise efficiency and minimise disease
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2
Q

Why is fertility important in dairy cattle?

A
  • Typically all year round calvers
  • But some seasonal (block) calvers
  • Does calving interval still matter?
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3
Q

Why do we do Routien Fertility Visits? (RFV)

A

» Keep Fertility KPIs in check
* Cows need to adhere to a
thigh schedule to be
productive!
* Not seen in oestrus
* PDs
» Assess and address disease
» Vet engagement to farm
dynamics and issues –
Vet/Farmer relationship

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4
Q

What Approach to RFV?

A
  1. Farm reproductive strategy
  2. Select the right cows
  3. Reproductive history
  4. Vaginal examination
  5. Rectal examination + Ultrasound
  6. Establish a plan
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5
Q

Refresh the reprod cycle in cows?

A
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6
Q

What are some Farm Reprod strategy questions we should ask?

A
  • What is the target calving index?
  • What pregnancy rate is realistically achievable?

> What is the Voluntary Waiting Period (VWP)? Normally between 42– 50 days
Calving Index (CI) target ~380 days (356 days for Beef and Block)
Pregnancy Rate (PR)-> Submission rate

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7
Q

Which cows to select in RFVs?

A
  • Cows not seen in oestrus before end of VWP – depending on Heat detection
  • Cows with irregular oestrus intervals
  • Cows which don’t get into calf (‘Repeat Breeders’- serviced multiple times)
  • Pregnancy diagnosis ~35 days
  • Fresh cows ~21 to 28 days in milk (DIM)
  • Sick cows/ Farmer flagged issue
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8
Q

Reproductive history in RFV?

A
  • Age & parity
  • Previous breeding problems?
  • Details of last calving and any parturient problems
  • Oestrus observation, expression, frequency & regularity
  • Service history – dates, method, operator, sire / straw
  • Production & health records
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9
Q

Why might vaginal exam be controversial?

A

introduction of pathogens

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10
Q

Approach & asessment of vag exam?

A

Approach
* Dry wipe with paper towel
* Clean glove lubricant

Assess
* Damage from calving
* Diameter of the cervix
* Discharges
* Presence of RFM

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11
Q

interpretation of vaginal exam?

A
  • Hormonal state
  • Uterine inflmmation
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12
Q

What different Discharges might we differentiate?

A
  • Bulling string
  • Metoestral bleeding
  • Lochia
  • Endometritis & pyometra
  • Metritis
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13
Q

What to make fo Diameter of cervix?

A
  • Open – Oestrogen
  • Closed – Progesterone / Acyclicity
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14
Q

What does normal post-partum discharge look like?

A
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15
Q

What does metritis look like?

A
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16
Q

what does endometritis look like?

A
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17
Q

Describe scoring of endometritis?

18
Q

Describe use fo rectal exam & Us in your RFV?

A

> Transrectal ultrasound
* Reproductive tract
* Ovaries

> Establish
* Stage of cycle
* Pathology

19
Q

How do we make a plan with all this info?

A

> Farm factors
* Objective & strategy
* Standard operating procedures

> Patient factors
* Presentation & history
* Stage of production (too early?; self-cure)
* Diagnosis & prognosis (unresponsive endometritis, unresponsive cystic
disease)
* Treatment options

20
Q

What are some common presentations with ferility issues?

A

» Uterine inflammatory disease &
RFM
» Oestrus not observed
» Negative PDs/ Missed returns
» Stillbirth and abortion

21
Q

Make a table comparing and contrasting Uterine Inflammatory Disease

22
Q

Why do we treat endometritis?

A

EndoM has:
- No detecabe effect on animal welfare
- Ahigh rate of self cure
- A negative effect on preganncy risk

Improvement of pregnancy risk is the ONLY indication for tx

23
Q

BAse don what factors do we decide tot reat endometritis?

A
  1. Is there pus present on vaginal examination?
  2. When did the cow calve? Chance to self-cure
  3. What grade is the vaginal discharge?
24
Q

How to manage Retained fetal membranes?

A
  • DO NOT manually remove
  • Systemic therapy indicated any of the following signs are also present
  • Metritic uterine discharge
  • Pyrexia
  • Signs of systemic ill-health
  • Oxytocin / Carbetocin provide no therapeutic benefit
25
What are the main differentials for not observing oestrus in cattle?
- Failure of cyclicity - Failure of oestrus expression - Failure of oestrus observaiton
26
What can cause failure fo cyclicity?
* Persistent CL (Luteal cyst) * Cystic ovarian disease * Anoestrus (small ovaries)
27
What causes Failure of oestrus expression?
* Cow factors (genetics, disease, lameness, NEBAL) * Management factors (e.g. floor surface, yard space, sexually-active group, calving pattern
28
What causes failure of oestrus observation ?
- dedication and time - Systematic approach and heat detection aids
29
How do we manage follicularCompare follicular vs luteal cysts ?
30
Diagnosis of anoestrus?
* Absence of observed oestrus * Small ovaries
31
Tx of anoestrus
* GnRH * Progesterone * eCG (FSH-like) * hCG (LH-like) * Synchronisation protocols
32
What causes failure of ovulation ?
- NEBAL - Asynchrony
32
What differentials for Negative PDs/ Missed returns
-> Failure fo ovulation / poor quality oocytes -> Failure of conception ->Failure of maternal recognition of pregnancy -> Embryonic death -> Early Ed, Late ED
33
Failure of conception ?
- hostile uterine environment - Oestrus detection specificty and service timing - AI technique and semen handling / Bull infertility
34
Management of Negative PDs/ Missed returns?
> Diagnosis * History of service * Negative PD result >Treatment * Dependant on stage of cycle (e.g. CL Vs FO) * +/- Prioritise for synchronisation
35
How do we synchronise ?
36
Give differentials for stillbirths & abortion?
37
What criteria for investigating abortions?
- Not calved before - Non dairy - Previous abortions int he past month
38
What sample collection for brucellosis investigation?
- Blood, milk, vaginal swab, placenta
39
List all stages of investigation for stillbirth/ abortion
1. Carry out a Brucellosis investigation if required 2. Full reproductive history 3. Clinical examination 4. Submit foetus and placenta for PME 5. Blood sample for serology – BVDV – Leptospirosis – BHV-1 – Neospora