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Ram Breeding Soundness Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of a sound ram?

A

Ram with the ability to successfully locate ewes, perform the act of mating, fertilise ova and achieve pregnancy

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2
Q

Do soundness exams determine fertility?

A

No

- e.g. monorchids are fertile but permanently unsound

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3
Q

What are we palpating for in rams testicles…

A

Scrotal Contents

  • testis
  • epididymis: head/ body/ tail
  • Spermatic cord

Scrotal skin

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4
Q

How do we perform scrotal palpations?

A
  • Bilaterally from behind
  • Have own personal standardised technique so all rams done the same way

Must check for:

  • Anatomy of all structures
  • Testicular symmetry
  • Testicular tone
  • Testicular lesions
  • Spermatic cord
  • Scrotal skin
    • wool length
    • mange
    • abscesses/ shearing cuts
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5
Q

When are ram breeding soundness exams (BSE) done?

A
  • Pre-mating Ram BSE in February
  • Pre-sale 2th Ram BSE
  • Ram lambs at weaning to detect generic trends from sires - cull non-suitable stud lambs
  • Pre-purchase check of a single sire
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6
Q

Why are Rams BSE’d?

A

Sheep farmers need to know that their Rams are free from disease and defects that are known to impair mating
- Rams should be able to produce good quality semen throughout the mating season

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7
Q

What is a genetically sound ram?

A

One that has no congenital, physical or genital abnormalities or any condition that will lead to this ram becoming uncapable of service

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8
Q

What is a fertile ram?

A

A ram that is capable of service and able to impregnate ewes mated to him

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9
Q

What should ram scrotal circumference be?

A

29-35cm or more

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10
Q

When are rams testes often pink flushed?

A

Prior to breeding

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11
Q

What can cause testes to degenerate?

A
  • Seasonal Atrophy
  • Malnutrition
  • Parasitism
  • Heat
  • Disease of scrotal contents
  • Anatomical
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12
Q

What are some anatomical irregularities of the testes?

A
  • Asymmetry
  • Segmental Aplasia
  • Hypospadia: incomplete urethral closure
  • High riding scrotum
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Monorchid
  • Micro-orchid
  • Cryptorchid
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13
Q

What is hypospadia in rams?

A 
Incomplete closure of the urethra
Three main types:
- Scrotal
- Mid Penis
- End Penis
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14
Q

What are some specific diseases of the testes?

A
  • Epididymitis
  • Chorioptic Mange
  • CLA abscesses
  • Trauma to scrotum
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15
Q

Is BSE or semen evaluation a better indicator of fertility in a ram?

A

BSE - a ram with large, well toned, even sized testes that are free from defects is likely to produce a large volume of good quality semen

Semen evaluation tests can lead to incorrect results and may need to be repeated $$

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16
Q

When are penis and prepuce exams performed on rams?

A

Not routinely

  • On individuals for sale or purpose
  • May be a question on their prior performance history
  • Single sire mating rams prior to mating
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17
Q

Describe the normal anatomy of the ram penis…

A

Consists of: sigmoid flexure, body of penis and glans penis
- body and glans must be able to be retracted from the prepuce

  • Tip of glans has a retractable urethral process
  • Prepuce should be entire without ulceration etc. at the opening
18
Q

Describe Balanoposthitis…

A

Pizzle rot

  • Corynebacterium renale
  • Grows well in alkaline urine
  • Urea in urine is converted into ammonia which burns the preputial orifice - scabby, pusey, urine pooling
  • Wethers are more prone because they don’t extrude their penis
  • Can be transmitted between ewes, rams, wethers and lambs by direct contact

RAMS DIE FROM URAEMIA

19
Q

What is balanoposthitis vs. posthitis?

A

Balanoposthitis is where infection has penetrated deep into the prepuce
- whereas posthitis is where infection is limited to the exterior of the prepuce

20
Q

How do you treat balanoposthitis?

A
  • Acidify urine with 2-3 grams of Ammonium Chloride TID
  • Prepucial flushes with antibiotics
  • In severe cases surgical opening from drainage is required + procaine penicillin daily for 5-10 days
21
Q

How do you treat posthitis?

A

Acidify urine by removing access to high protein diets

Restrict on to hay + ad lib water

22
Q

Describe urethral process obstruction…

A

affects the process and glans penis

- Wethers / goats on high concentrate feeds

23
Q

Describe scrotal mange…

A
  • 3 week lifecycle
  • Live in and on skin causing exudation and severe irritation
  • Mites found on both sexes, cattle and horses too
  • Scrotum, dew claws, brisket and pole of head
  • Clinical signs are not number related - they are related to allergy fr individual
    • many animals carry mites and show no signs

Can result in Permanent unsoundness if more that 50% of the scrotum is affected
= infertility as a result of thickening of scrotal wall due to irritation + crusty scabs = less heat lost which affects spermatogenesis

24
Q

How are mite infections treated?

A

Mites are susceptible to organophosphates
- apply topically or by dipping

  • Moxidectin injection
25
How do you control mite infection in rams?
Treat all rams - Shower/ Jetting - at least 8 weeks PSM
26
What can semen samples be used for?
- Fertility indicators | - Cultures for disease diagnosis
27
What is the best way to extract a rams penis?
Best done with ram in sitting position - Grab with 3 fingers and hold - Hold with gauze etc. so it doesn't slip from fingers - Take care not to pull off urethral process - Use pottle for semen collection via Electroejaculation
28
What parameters can be evaluated in Ram semen?
- Semen density (400 x mag) - Total volume - Wave motion of sperm (40x mag) - Morphology of sperm (1000x mag)
29
What must you remember when interpreting semen?
Need all info not just semen - Poor ejaculate evaluation doesn't tell you fertility especially if testis size etc doesn't support this - May need repeat collections and analysis
30
What can a semen culture be useful for?
Diagnostic to differentiate between bacterial infections that affect the fertility of the ram - B.ovis - Gm-ve pleomorphs
31
What is epididymitis?
Inflammation of the epididymis due to infection within the seminiferous tubules resulting in obstruction and occlusion = sperm build up = rupture = immunogenic reaction = granuloma = PERMANENTLY UNSOUND Caused by: - B.ovis - Gm -ve pleomorphs - Vasectomies
32
How do you diagnose the cause of epididymitis?
Depends on: - History - No. of rams affected - Age of Rams - Results of tests
33
Describe B.ovis...
- Bacterial ( gm-ve coccobacillus) disease transmitted by sexual contact: ram to ram - Enters through MMs - Localises in lymph nodes - Passes into bacteraemic phase where it arrives at the epididymis and accessory glands - Ewes aren't considered an important vector - Disease results in epididymis (usually the tail) - lesions 2-3 cm can occur within days of infection - Usually but not always unilateral PERMANENT UNSOUNDNESS
34
How do you diagnose B.ovis infection?
- Organisms can be isolated from semen after 3 weeks - History of poor LP% - Palpation of lesions - Blood test - GDT and ELISA - Semen culture - Histopath of testes and accessory sex glands
35
What should be done with B.ovis infected lambs?
Cull all positive animals Costs: culling and replacing rams and vet costs Cost benefits: condensed lambing pattern. high LP% and fewer rams needed
36
How do you eradicate B.ovis infection?
1. Palpate all rams 2. Isolate any with lesions and CFT blood test 3. Cull all with epididymis lesions 4. If positive in blood test, repeat all palpations and blood tests all remaining rams every month 5. When test clear, wait 60 days and repeat palpations and blood tests on all rams 6. Two clear tests 60 days apart = accreditation
37
What might be the cause of B.ovis infection not clearing from a property?
- A carrier with low antibodies - Missed rams ar mustering - Neighbouring rams may be jumping the fence - Farmer may have reintroduced infection from purchased rams
38
How do you become part of the B.ovis accreditation scheme?
- Owners volunteer to join - History taken to ensure all rams are recently purchased are from accredited flocks - Palpate and Blood test all rams used for mating including teasers - Palpate all rams for sale within 3 months of sale
39
Describe the pathogenesis of gram -ve pleomorphs...
- Acute outbreak in young rams - Retrograde infection up the urethra into the accessory sex glands and epididymis from the environment - Some ram hoggets become systemically ill, separate from the mob, stop eating and walk with difficulty - Some lesions are large - Epididymis abscess may burst through the scrotal wall with thick pus or decrease leaving a remnant lesion, atrophied testes and a permanently unsound ram - Usually unilateral only
40
How do you diagnose gram negative pleomorphs?
Rams can carry bacteria in sex glands for up to 2 years - Pus and inflammatory cells in semen - If no epididymitis rams will recover - Palpate for lesions - Culture semen - Blood tests aren't helpful
41
How do you control gm-ve pleomorph infection?
- Environmental contamination - Rams congregate together- Don't yard them in dirty yards etc. - Isolate known infected animals from ram hoggets

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