Reproduction Flashcards

1
Q

what is the most important aspect for profitability of suckler herds?

A

fertility (weaned calves per cows served)

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2
Q

why can poor fertility cause lower weaning weight in suckler herds?

A

calves usually weaned at same time, every cycle the cow doesn’t conceive is 21 days less of growth (25kg)

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3
Q

what are some variable costs of suckler farms?

A

labour
feed
bedding
veterinary expense…

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4
Q

what are some factors to consider to maximise suckler herd production?

A

cow fertility
calf management
restricted and best breeding season
bull fertility
good herd health
breeding/record evaluation
replacement management (heifer management)

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5
Q

what are the aims for number of calves weaned per cows to the bull? (for 100 cows)

A

> 88 calves

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6
Q

what weight should you aim for calves to be at weaning compared to the weight of their mother?

A

> 45% of weight (depends on size of cow)

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7
Q

how can overall performance of suckler herds be monitored?

A

% pregnant at 21 days
% pregnant at 63 days
median calving date
pregnancy, calving and weaning rate

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8
Q

what are the benefits of a compact calving block for sucklers?

A

improve reproductive fitness of cows
better environment/season
easier/greater heifer selection
management/routine procedure ease
disease control/risk
reduced labour
strategic nutrition
homogenous group at sale

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9
Q

what is the most sensitive measure of farm/cattle performance on a suckler herd?

A

look at how tight their calving block is

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10
Q

by what oestrus post service would you expect the majority of cows to be in calf in a suckler herd?

A

3rd oestrus (80%)

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11
Q

if you’re aiming for a calf a year from suckler herds, how long does a cow how to get pregnant after calving?

A

roughly 82 days (gestation is roughly 283 days)

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12
Q

when do you want heifers to calve in comparison to the rest of the herd in suckler systems?

A

few weeks before to give them a longer rest before getting in calf again

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13
Q

when should a suckler cow aim to calf for the first time?

A

2 years old (may struggle with some native breeds, easier to achieve with continentals)

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14
Q

why should the breeding/calving period of heifers be shorter than that of the rets of the herd? (6 weeks)

A

rough indication of better fertility
gives her more time to grow/involute before second mating

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15
Q

why is mortality higher in late born calves of suckler herds?

A

pathogens - older calves, accumulation in calving area, more animals
dystocia risk (cows over conditioned)
less care - fatigue of labour

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16
Q

what are some possible options to reduce a spread-out calving block of a suckler herd?

A

split into spring and autumn group
cull late calvers and replace with early calved heifers
wean calves earlier and synchronise late calvers with hormones

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17
Q

why would AI be advantageous in suckler herds?

A

wider genetics and targeted selection
safety, biosecurity, diseases control easier

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18
Q

what are the main issues with nutrition for beef animals?

A

deficiencies (home made diets)
not maintaining BCS

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19
Q

what effect does copper deficiency have on cattle?

A

delayed puberty, an oestrus, poor pregnancy rate

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20
Q

what effect does cobalt deficiency have on cattle?

A

poor conception rate and silent heats

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21
Q

what effect does iodine deficiency have on cattle?

A

embryonic death, stillbirths and weak calves

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22
Q

what is the tareget BCS for suckler cows at calving?

A

2.5 (3 for first calving)

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23
Q

what is a good way to address low BCS of suckler cattle?

A

wean calf earlier to allow more time to gain condition (later if over conditioned) - should always wean early in first time calver

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24
Q

what is the first stage of labour?

A

dilation of the cervix

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25
Q

how long should the first stage of labour (cervix dilation)?

A

3-6 hours

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26
Q

what are the signs a cow is in the first stage of labour (cervix dilation)?

A

separates herself from herd
appetite decreases
restless (standing/lying alternation)
mucous string from vulva
abdominal straining begins

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27
Q

how does abdominal straining stimulate cervical dilation when calving?

A

pushes uterine content against cervix causing further dilation

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28
Q

what is stage 2 of labour?

A

delivery of the calf

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29
Q

what happens during the second stage of labour (calf delivery)?

A

membranes (water bag) appears
water bag ruptures
cervix dilates due to further pressure from calf
powerful reflex and contractions of abdominal muscle and diaphragm expels calf

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30
Q

what is the third stage of labour?

A

expulsion of the placenta

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31
Q

what are membranes classed as retained?

A

12 hours after delivery of calf

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32
Q

when should you intervene when a cow is calving?

A

no progression 1 hour after the water bag starts showing
if there were signs of first stage labour but hasn’t progressed to the second after 6 hours
extreme discomfort is present
significant bleeding from vulva

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33
Q

what is the main cause of dystocia?

A

fetomaternal disproportion (calf too big)

34
Q

what are some possible causes of dystocia?

A

malpresentation
foeti-maternal oversize (large calf, fat cow…)
congenital abnormality (schistosoma, spina bifida, hdryocephalus)
hydrops allantois
schmallenberg virus
primary inertia (hypocalcaemia)

35
Q

what should you pay particular attention to on vaginal examination of calving cows?

A

lesions/haemorrhage
position of uterus and calf
relaxation/dilation of vulva, vagina, cervix
signs of calf life
position of umbilical cord (breech birth)

36
Q

what are the three R relating to calving a cow with dystocia?

A

reposition (calf/uterus)
repulsion
rotation

37
Q

what is the Ferguson reflex?

A

having something pushed through the cervix triggers oxytocin release which further dilates the cervix and means the calf can be pushed through further triggering more oxytocin release…

38
Q

what can clenbuterol be used for when calving a cow?

A

relax the uterus

39
Q

what type of drug is clenbuterol?

A

beta 2 agonist

40
Q

what is the issue with using clenbuterol during calving?

A

cow won’t help push because the uterus will be relaxed

41
Q

what is the ideal position to place calving ropes?

A

one loop above and one loop below the fetlock (double loop)

42
Q

what needs to be assessed before calving a breech calf?

A

position of umbilical cord (compressed or wrapped around leg)
limbs should be able to be exteriorised to the point where the hocks are past the vulva (if not then not enough space to calve)

43
Q

how do most twins appear when they are scanned on PD?

A

dizygotic - there will be two CLs

44
Q

what is episiotomy?

A

purposeful cutting of vulva to allow space for calving/procedures

45
Q

what should be attempted before episiotomy is carried out?

A

stretching vulval lips with arms for 20-30 minutes

46
Q

where is an incision made for an episiotomy?

A

10-11 o’clock or 1-2 o’clock

47
Q

what must be done before doing an episiotomy?

A

epidural anaesthetic

48
Q

why should you cut at 12 o’clock for an episiotomy?

A

risk of rectovaginal fistula
more risk of foetal contamination
more blood supply/nerves

49
Q

what are some complications associated with episiotomy?

A

wound infection/breakdown
distorted vulval confirmation - pneumovaginum/urovaginum
weak point in future calving

50
Q

what are the indications for a full embryotomy?

A

large dead calf
abnormal calf

51
Q

what are the indications for a partial embryotomy?

A

hip locked
head back
leg back

52
Q

why should one front leg be kept on when doing a full embryotomy?

A

allows you to keep the pressure pulling the calf out so it doesn’t slip back

53
Q

what are some possible complications of fetotomy?

A

uterine tears
cervical tears
vaginal tears
retained foetal membrane
metritis
adhesions

54
Q

when do most uterine torsions occur?

A

at the onset of parturition

55
Q

what are the risk factors for uterine torsion?

A

poor rumen fill
space in abdomen
hilly land
process of cows standing up and lying down

56
Q

what direction are the majority of uterine torsions?

A

anti-clockwise (when stood behind the cow)

57
Q

what are some options for correcting uterine torsions?

A

swing calf
twist legs of calf when exteriorised
roll cow
caesarian (unable to untwist)

58
Q

what are some complications of uterine torsion?

A

occluded blood supply (friable tissue)
toxic cow and emphysematous calf if not noticed early

59
Q

what are some major indications for caesarians?

A

foetal oversize or foetomaternal disproportion
irreducible uterine torsion
insufficient cervical dilation

60
Q

what are some minor indications of caesarian section?

A

foetal malpresentation
abnormal calf
dead/empyhsematous calf
constricted vagina/vestibule

61
Q

what are some possible indications for elective caesarians?

A

double muscled breeds
embryo transfer calves

62
Q

when should antibiotics be given for caesarians?

A

before surgery (allows antibiotic to get into clots)

63
Q

what is the technique for a caesarian?

A

clip/surgically prepare
incise left flank from transverse process and slightly behind last rib
locate uterine horn and exteriorise
incise uterus
remove calf

64
Q

what are the walls of the abdomen?

A

external abdominal oblique
internal abdominal oblique
transverse abdominus
rectus abdominus

65
Q

how is the uterus closed after a caesarian?

A

absorbable monofilament using an inverting pattern with 1 or 2 layers

66
Q

what should be given post operatively for caesarians?

A

oxytocin
(calcium if appropriate)

67
Q

what are some complications associated with caesarians?

A

haemorrhage
peritonitis
local adhesions
retained foetal membrane
metritis
wound infection/breakdown

68
Q

what are uterine prolapses usually associated with?

A

uterine prolapse

69
Q

what is the procedure for replacing a uterine prolapse?

A

cows standing or in frog leg
caudal epidural anaesthesia
put cover under uterus
remove foetal membranes and clean
apply lube and gentle replace with palm
ensure horns are fully inverted
(place buhner suture)
give oxytocin, NSAIDs, antibiotics and calcium

70
Q

what can be used to shrink a swollen uterus?

A

sugar/salt

71
Q

what are quantitative genetics?

A

inherited traits that we can measure such as milk yield, muscle growth…

72
Q

how many genes often influence quantitative genetics?

A

many at different loci

73
Q

can quantitative traits be effected by the environment?

A

yes - most of them are

74
Q

what is needed to improve a genetic trait?

A

genetic variability

75
Q

if an animals trait has a high heritability what does this mean?

A

more easily/faster improvement through genetic selection

76
Q

what are some high heritability traits off dairy cows?

A

body conformation
udder morphology
milk fat/proteins

77
Q

what does a negative genetic correlation mean?

A

genes are linked - selecting for positive gene in one trait will mean negative selection in a mother trait

78
Q

what is the general genetic correlation between milk yield and fertility?

A

weak negative correlation

79
Q

what are breeding values?

A

additive genetic merit of an animal

80
Q

how are breeding values calculated?

A

animals and their relative performance

81
Q

what are the animals genetics compared to to get their breeding values?

A

the population mean for certain traits

82
Q

what is bovine leucocyte adhesion deficiency?

A

heritable disease caused by a single point mutation leading to leukocyte adhesions of neutrophils so there are few neutrophils to fight infection