The Bull - MT Flashcards
Which animal, the bull or the cow, is responsible for passing on the milk production gene?
The Bull
Why are libido testing & mating ability often NOT included in a routine Bull BSE?
Difficult & time-consuming tasks
What are the 4 essential attributes a bull is required to pass a BSE?
- Freedom from disease
- Good libio
- Physically sound (sheath conformation, scrotal circumference)
- Good semen quality
Basically must be able to ID estral cows, see, eat, walk
Why is it important to test the bull’s vision during a BSE?
Bulls ID estrual cows by sight
List the Accessory Sex Glands of the Bull.
Which one often causes the most problems?
- Vesicular Glands/Seminal vesicles ⇒ causes the most problems
- Prostate
- Bulbourethral gland
- Ampulla
Where is the storage site for sperm in the bull?
The tail of the epididymis
List the important players in sperm production.
- Hypothalamus ⇒ GnRH
- Anterior pituitary ⇒ LH & FSH
- Sertoli cells (testes) ⇒ Inhibin & E2
- Leydig cells (testes)⇒ Testosterone
Why are we concerned about the
scrotal circumference of bulls?
Bulls w/ small testes:
- produce less sperm
- have earlier testicular degeneration
- produce offspring that reach puberty later
**Bulls w/large testes:**
- good sperm production
- **offspring earlier puberty **
Where is scrotal circumference measured?
At the widest part of the scrotum
What is the minimum acceptable scrotal circumference for a bull > 24 months?
34 cm
What are some ways that a vet
can collect semen from a bull?
- Rectal massage
- AV
- Electro-ejaculation
When should you place the AV on the penis when collecting semen via electro-ejaculation?
Put the AV on once you see white
(don’t collect the clear fluid)
What are the minimum standards a bull must meet in order to pass the Semen Quality exam?
- Fair gross motility (generalized oscillation)
- > 30% individual motility
- > 70% normal sperm cell morphology
What should the volume of the
spermatozoa + seminal fluid be?
1 - 6 mL
What stain is used to evaluate bull sperm?
What color is live sperm? dead sperm?
Eosin-nigrosin stain
Live = White
**Dead = Pink **
What are the 3 ways to classify sperm abnormalities?
-
Site of abnormality on the sperm
- head, midpiece or tail
-
Orgin of defect
- 1° ⇒ testes (spermatogenesis)
- 2° ⇒ epididymis
- 3° ⇒ post-ejaculation (handling, etc)
-
Effects on fertility
- Major vs. minor
- Compensable vs. uncompensable
What morphological sperm defect is commonly seen?
What does it indicate?
- Proximal protoplasmic droplets
- Scrotal injury or testicular heating
What will correct a compensable spermatic defect?
Increasig the sperm dose
What can cause orchitis in bulls?
- Brucellosis (~ 61 d)
- A. pyogenes
Define Testicular Hypoplasia.
total or partial lack of development
**of spermatogenic tissue; congenital i.e it never developed **
Define Testicular degeneration.
total or parital LOSS of spermatogenic tissue
usually following an insult e.g orchitis, fever, trauma (it was there but now its atrophied)
Define a Hydrocoele.
Accumulation of fluid btwn the
tunica vaginalis, parietalis & visceralis
Define a Hematocoele.
Accumulation of blood btwn the
tunica vaginalis, parietalis & visceralis
What is a spermatocoele?
cyst/sperm granuloma caused by leakage of sperm cells into surrounding tissue
What is a varicocoele?
dilated veins in the pampiniform plexus associated with testicular atrophy
What is the treament protocol for Fibro-papilloma that causes bleeding on the prepuce.
- Tissue vax
- Surgical removal