Reproduction in Sheep & Goats Flashcards

1
Q

What kind of estrous cycle do does and ewes have? How does the interestrus interval compare?

A

seasonally polyestrous, short-day breeders (August-March, peak at October-December)

  • DOE = 20-21 days
  • EWE = 16-17 days
  • during transitional period or non-breeding season (luteal failure)
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2
Q

How long does estus last in does and ewes? What is their first ovulation like?

A

36 hours –> late in estrus, requires progesterone priming

silent estrus - due to no P4 priming

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3
Q

What is the ram/buck effect?

A

ewe/doe does not exhibit signs of estrus when the ram/buck is not present –> use teaser males prior to breeding season to stimulate cyclicity

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4
Q

How are teaser males used to induce cyclicity in does/ewes?

A
  • no contact for 3-4 weeks prior
  • induce fenceline contact with highly fertile or vasectomized males
  • generally ovulation should occur within 6 days (silent)
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5
Q

When are does/ewes inseminated? What is considered the time of optimal insemination? What are 3 options?

A

behavioral signs of heat in the presence or with the odor of a buck/ram –> interest, tail flagging, vocalization, increased urination

mucous turns cloudy

  1. vaginal/cervical AI
  2. transcervical AI - NOT in sheep due to the folds in the cervix
  3. laparoscopic intrauterine AI - bypass vagina and cervix, able to use less semen
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6
Q

How long is gestation in goats/sheep? What is their placentation like?

A

5 months

synepitheliochorial, cotyledonary with concave caruncles

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7
Q

What is a normal breed difference in placentation? What 4 tests are used for pregnancy diagnosis?

A

caruncular melanosis –> black-faced sheep (Suffolk)

  1. interferon tau - day 13-15
  2. pregnancy-specfiic protein B - > day 25 in goats, day 30-70 in sheep
  3. estrone sulfate - >50 days (viable fetus)
  4. progesterone - >21 days in goats, >18 days in sheep (low in nonpregnant)
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8
Q

What are the sources of progesterone in does and ewes?

A

DOES - CL

EWES - CL until days 50-60, then placenta

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9
Q

What 3 types of imaging can be done to diagnose pregnancy in does/ewes?

A
  1. transrectal U/S - days 30-35, embryonic vesicle
  2. transabdominal U/S - days 45-70, embryonic vesicle, fetus, placentomes
  3. radiographs - >90 days, fetal skeletons
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10
Q

What is seen in this ultrasound of a goat’s uterus?

A

placentome

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11
Q

In what small ruminants is uterine prolapse most common? How is it treated?

A

sheep > goats –> genetic, do not use as breeding animals

  • early/mild - only seen in recumbency, typically do not need treatment
  • complete - clean exposed tissue, decrease size, and replace tissue gently, place paddle, harness, or modified Buhner suture
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12
Q

What is likely the cause of the odd appearance of this goat?

A

distended uterine lumen –> hydrometra (“cloudburst”

  • pyometra would have some hyperechoic fibrin in the fluid
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13
Q

What are 3 signs of hydrometra? How is it treated?

A
  1. anestrus
  2. pregnancy-like - abdominal enlargement and elevated progesterone from persistent CL
  3. variable accumulation of fluid within uterus due to closed cervix

PGF2a - resume cycle and induce luteolysis

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14
Q

What are some possible causes of hydrometra?

A
  • pseudopregnancy - cessation of luteolysis in absence of pregnancy
  • early pregnancy loss
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15
Q

What are some noninfectious and infectious causes of infertility in female sheep and goats?

A

polled intersex syndrome, toxic Veratrum californicum

  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Q fever
  • Chlamydiosis
  • Campylobacteriosis (sheep > goats)
  • Brucellosis
  • Border disease
  • Bluetongue virus
  • Cache Valley disease
  • Schmallenberg virus
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16
Q

What is polled intersex syndrome? What genetic predisposition is associated?

A

60, XX, SRY-, testicular DSD –> male pseudohermaphrodites (undescended testicles with female secondary genitalia)

dominant polled gene (no horns) is closely linked to recessive intersex gene/gene deletion

17
Q

What phenotype is associated with polled intersex syndrome?

A
  • polled goats
  • female-like at birth
  • intra-abdominal or partially descending testes
  • always sterile
18
Q

What toxic plant typically causes infertility in sheep? What signs are associated with the timing on ingestion?

A

Veratrum californicum –> teratogenic alkaloids

  • 12th-14th day of gestation = cyclops, prolonged gestation associated with absence of pituitary gland
  • after day 14 = shortened limbs, tracheal stenosis, increased embryonic loss
19
Q

What causes Toxoplasmosis in goats and sheep? What signs are associated? What are the pathognomic lesions?

A

Toxoplasma gondi - shed in cat feces

  • abortion
  • mummification
  • stillbirth
  • birth of weak kids/lambs

pepperoni-like necorsis of cotyledons –> white to yellow focal areas of necrosis and calcification with normal inter-cotyledonary areas

20
Q

How is Toxoplasmosis diagnosed? Managed?

A

stained smears of cotyledons + histopath

  • limit exposure to infected cat feces
  • coccidiostats
21
Q

What causes Q fever? How is it transmitted?

A

Coxiella burnetii - G-, intracellular

inhalation or MM contact with aborted materials

22
Q

What placental lesions are indicative of Q fever? How is it diagnosed? Treated?

A
  • necrosis of cotyledons
  • thickened intercotyledonary areas

large numbers of organisms in placental tissue

tetracyclines

23
Q

What causes Chlamydiosis in small ruminants? What sign is associated?

A

Chlamydia abortus –> Enzootic Abortion of Ewes, more common in goats in the US

abortion within last 2-3 weeks of gestation

24
Q

How is Chlamydiosis transmitted? What acts as reservoirs?

A

ingestion and inhalation from aborted materials and vaginal d/c –> sheep-to-sheep contact especially at lambing

pigeons and sparrows

25
Q

What pathological changes are seen with Chlamydiosis? How is it treated?

A

nonspecific - generalized placentitis, stained placental smear with elementary bodies

Tetracyclines

26
Q

What 2 species cause Campylobacteriosis in small ruminants? What sign is associated?

A
  1. Campylobacter fetus subsp fetus - large outbreaks
  2. C. jejuni - sporadic abortion
    - most significant cause of abortion in sheep in the US (ewes are typically not sick)

late-gestation abortions and weak/stillborn lamb

27
Q

How is Campylobacteriosis transmitted? What pathological changes are characteristic?

A

ingestion (unlike venerally transmitted in bovines)

  • aborted lambs with grossly visible liver necrosis
  • edematous placenta with necrosis of cotyledons
28
Q

How is Campylobacteriosis treated?

A
  • Tetracycline in feed or injection of long-acting
  • vaccinate all pregnant ewes during outbreak