Principles of Semen Quality Flashcards
How long does it take for sperm to develop in the testes?
61 days
How long is sperm stored in the epididymis?
11 days
Why would we need to know if a bull had been previously lame?
As diseases will affect semen quality
What is the effect of stress on semen?
Stress affects the semem quality - usually 4 weeks ish later
What can be seen morpholically post stress?
Day:
0-7
6-14
12-23
17-23
21-35
35-39
49-55
What is the effect of heat on the sperm?
Hot outside temperature
% defects a month or 2 later – affected sperm
What 4 things do we do to for semen analysis?
- Volume = 0.5-2.5ml relate to ram age, size and breed, testicle size
- Colour = Concentration + Contamination
- white – yellow = normal.
- brownish = blood,
- greenish = Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
- clots or mucus = pus and inflammation.
- Density = 2500 – 5000 million sperm/ml (use of EEJ can result in a sample more dilute than would have been collected with AV)
- Motility = 70 – 95 %
How can we get a semen sample (3)
- Artificial vagina – Ruminants and stallions
- Digital manipulation – Boars and dogs
- Electro-ejaculation – Further specialist training should be undertaken before attempting it
- Especially rams!
- Animal welfare
What coniditions do we need to have optimal semen microscopy? (4)
- >5 Celsius field lab
- Good microscope
- Warm stage
- Use dashboard to keep warm
- Keeps the sperm alive for longer
- Good smears
What is the difference between ram and bull fetility testing? (4)
- Rams are seasonal, bulls are not
- Rams have higher ‘workload’ ewe:ram ratio (up to 120 ewes per ram for some breeds)
- Young bull may not cope with 60 heifers
- Most infertility in rams can be detected from the physical exam, with bulls, semen examination almost always required
- Rams - Semen collection by electro-ejaculator is painful in rams and must only be used when absolutely necessary not as a routine test. Analgesia is recommended and collection via artificial vagina is recommended to provide a more representative sample without the welfare concerns
How do we grade sperm motility?
How do we desrcibe semen visual appearance?
How do we ensure biosecurity with AI?
- Regular testing of bulls on stud (often monthly while producing)
- All semen must be frozen and is subject to 28-day quarantine period before distribution
BUT
•For domestic use, bulls can be collected on farm and only bTB, Brucella and EBL tests are required by law
What is this? What causes it and is there any significance?
What is this? What causes it and is there any significance?
What is this? What causes it and is there any significance?
What is this? What causes it and is there any significance?
1problem with testicle - with the development
What is this? What causes it and is there any significance?
How can we semen sex?
- Fluorescent dye binds the DNA and allows the heavier X chromosomes to be differentiated from the Y
- and thus assigned a different charge. The sperm are then defected accordingly into separate pots
