Reproductive Technologies Flashcards
What do you need to check in mare and stallion before breeding
- general Health (e.g teeth, eyes, faeces, injuries)
- Reproductive history (used before, any issues)
- Specific examination examination of reproductive organs (swabs) (std, damage)
- semen evaluation
- oestrus cycle
- libido
What are acceptable fertility levels (rate/cycle and rate/season)
Preg rate/cycle = over 50% (abnormal = below 20%)
preg rate/season = over 80% (abnormal = below 60%
Specific examination of repro organs (3 examples)
- swabs
- samples
- ultrasound
Sterile/infertile (def)
incapable of producting offspring
physical - removal of tract, physiological - prob developing oocyts/sperm
Sub-fertile (def)
- reduced reproduction capacity
- may get fertilisation
- failure to conceive/carry pregnancy
Failure of fertilisation - why
- timing of insemination wrong in relation to ovulation (early = sperm die off before ova arrive, late = ova at end of tube/uterus not implanted even if fertilised later as ova too progressed)
- testicular/sperm factors/abnormalities (e.g motility)
- ovarian factors/abnormalities
- uterine disorders (failure of sperm to reach ovum
Fertilisation rate in mares
90-96%
Conception rate to first service in mares
50% (average of all breeds)
Conception rate to all services in mares
67-77% (TBs)
85% (quarter horses)
What are ATRs
= techniques to induce fertilisation and conception
Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Role of ARTs and why use them
- stallion/mare factors prevent successful natural conception
- reduced risk of disease and injury
- convenience
- greater choice of genetics (bred from different parts of world)
- increase progeny quickly (can allow more than one offspring in a season)
Periods of development - embryonic period
= conception to organogenesis
Periods of development - foetal period
= organogenesis to end of gestation
Periods of development - natal period
= birth
Periods of development - neonatal
= early days to first 4 weeks of life
What is controlled reproduction
- control of oestrus (e.g. bring forward so cycle in jan/feb, Gnrh injections)
- control breeding (AI, embryo transfer
- control preg test (blood test, scans)
- control foaling (when due tests/alerts)
Artificial semination - why not use in TB racing
- difficulty in establishing semen where comes from the stated stallion
- overuse of top stallions = narrow gene pool
AI - collecting semen from stallions
either
- mount mares in oestrus (ovariectomised and injected with hormones to mimic oestrus)
- mount dummies (need training)
AI - semen collection
- collected in AV (artificial vagina)
- whole ejaculate collected
- filtered through muslin cloth (remove gel)
- HYGINE - sterile, cleaned thoroughly to prevent bacteria transfer to sample/other stallions
Three types of straws in AI
- fresh (few hours, mare and stallion in same place)
- chilled (can send in post 24-48hours)
- frozen (overseas, difficult to do effectively
Types of semen extenders used
- INRA 96 extender
- E-Z mixi
- skim milk extender
= give sperm energy and protect if chilled/frozen due to temperature
- can contain antibiotics if bac enter sample