Small ruminants

Question 1

short day breeders

Answer 1

sheep and goats

cyclicity during fall (born in spring)

decreased daylight= increased melatonin
melatonin stimulates secretion of GnRH in short day breeders (promotes cyclicity)

Question 2

decreased daylight

Answer 2

increased melatonin secretion, increases GnRH secretion- cyclicity

Question 3

increased daylight

Answer 3

decreased melatonin secretion, decreased GnRH secretion- anestrus

Question 4

Sheep terminology

Answer 4

ewe- female
ram- male
lamb

Question 5

Goat terminology

Answer 5

doe- female
buck- male
kid

Question 6

epitheliochorial placenta

Answer 6

fetal cotyledon

maternal caruncle- in combo= placentome

Question 7

fetal cotelydons

Answer 7

convex

Question 8

Ewe female anatomy

Answer 8

long vulva
cervix= hard to pass through in the ewe
short uterine body and septum separates horns

Question 9

robust cervical rings

Answer 9

difficult to get past

big difference between goats and sheep

Question 10

ewe puberty

Answer 10

6-9 months

Question 11

ewe estrous cycle

Answer 11

14-20 days, avg. 17 days
estrus= 24-36 hours
ovulates during estrus- post LH surge, at day 0
progesterone increases as near ovulation but then estradiol increases as progesterone decreases

ink marking when sheep mounted, transfers to fleece, can see standing to be bred

Question 12

estrous cycle day lengths in the ewe

Answer 12

proestrus- 2 days
estrus- 24 to 36 hours
metestrus- 3 to 5 days, CL development
diestrus- shorter at 7-10 days, CL progesterone

Question 13

estrous cycle- ewe info

Answer 13

estrus= 24 to 36 hours
ovulates during estrus
behavior= minimal signs, unless ram present
vulvar swelling or slight discharge

Question 14

ewe pregnancy

Answer 14

gestation= 148 days
progesterone source- CL to 55-60 days
placenta >60 days

trans abdominal dx for ultra sound (can be transrectal)

Question 15

parturition- ewe

Answer 15

within 4 hours should be done

Question 16

Stage I- ewe

Answer 16

myometrial contractions
restless, pawing
mucous plug passage
to half day

Question 17

stage II- ewe

Answer 17

myometrial and abdominal contractions
standing, recumbent
fetal passage
2hours

Question 18

stage III-ewe

Answer 18

fetal membrane passage
loch discharge <3 weeks
<6-8 hours

Question 19

Doe cervix

Answer 19

simple cervical rings, can be melanized

Question 20

doe puberty

Answer 20

standard= 6-9 months, pygmy 3 mo.
autumn of first year
breed at 60% of adult weight

Question 21

estrous cycle- doe

Answer 21

21 days, pygmy 18-24 days

short day breeders

Question 22

estrous cycle lengths- doe

Answer 22

proestrus- 1 day (short)
estrus= 12-36 hrs
metestrus= 5 d, CL development
diestrus= 14 d, CL, progesterone dominance

Question 23

Estrus- doe

Answer 23

12-36h
very demonstrative
vocalization, tail wagging, vulva swelling, standing to be mated
vulvar discharge= clear-cloudy thick white progression
ovulates during estrus

Question 24

doe pregnancy

Answer 24

gestation length 150d
breed determines number of fetuses
CL dependent to term***
placenta does not make progesterone to maintain pregnancy

Question 25

Doe parturition

Answer 25

about 4 hours, stages 1-3

Question 26

Stage I- doe

Answer 26

myometrial contractions
restless and pawing
mucus plug passage
to half day

Question 27

Stage II-doe

Answer 27

myometrial and abdominal contractions
standing, recumbent
fetal passage
2 h

Question 28

Stage III-doe

Answer 28

fetal membrane passage (can be faster than ewe)
loch discharge <3 weeks
often 1 hours; <6 hours

Question 29

30-30-30 rule in goats

Answer 29

kidding started, see placenta or fetal part
wait 30 minutes (unless obvious problem)- then check doe
all ok then wait 30 mins more before assisting delivery
more kids wait 30 more mins for next

Question 30

Summary

Answer 30

sheep= 17 d cycle
estrus= quiet
robust convoluted cervical rings- difficult to pass

goats= 21 d cycle
estrus demonstrative
simple cervical rings