Reproduction Final Part 9 (Pozor)

Question 1

Contrast the fibers of the suri alpaca and the huacaya alpaca.

Answer 1

Suri –> long, pencil-like rods of silky fiber

Huacaya –> short, dense, crimpy fleece

Question 2

Describe aberrant behavior syndrome (aka berserk male syndrome) in alpacas.

Answer 2

• Occurs from alpaca imprinting on human
• Becomes aggressive against male humans
• Castration usually prevents this

Question 3

What is the recommended age to castrate a camelid?

Answer 3

No younger than 2 years old.

Question 4

Describe the testes of camelids.

Answer 4

• Non-pendulous scrotum
• Positioned near the anus
• Within scrotal sac at birth
• Sperm production begins as early as 10 months, but isn’t “established” until 2 years

Question 5

Where is the epidiymis located in relationship to the testicle in camelids?

Answer 5

Dorso-cranial

Question 6

What accessory sex organ do camelids NOT have?

Answer 6

Vesicular Glands

Question 7

Describe the camelid penile prepuce.

Answer 7

• Very small, compared to other livestock
• Normally angled towards posterior end
• Oriented cranially for mating

Question 8

Describe the camelid penis.

Answer 8

• Fibroelastic
• From birth to 3 years of age, penis will be attached to prepuce
• Pre-scrotal sigmoid flexure
• Glans penis is hooked

Question 9

Upon palpation, why do camelid uterine horns feel short?

Answer 9

They possess a membrane that “fuses” the outside of the two horns together at the base.

Question 10

Describe “cushing” in camelids.

Answer 10

When the female is down in a sternally recumbent position; it’s what must occur before males mate them.

Question 11

Define: Orgle

Answer 11

A vocalization produced by male camelids during mating.

Question 12

Younger camelid males will breed for (longer/shorter) periods of time.

Answer 12

younger camelid males will breed for SHORTER periods of time.

Question 13

Describe the ejaculation process of camelids.

Answer 13

• “Dribble ejaculators”
• Semen is deposited deep into the uterine horns
• Ejaculation will occur once every minute for 20 minutes

Question 14

T/F: Hembras are permissive when estrous.

Answer 14

TRUE

Question 15

Describe the process of induced ovulation in camelids.

Answer 15

• Female will only ovulate after breeding
• After couplation, LH levels begin to rise
• Ovulation occurs roughly 30 hours afterwards

Question 16

T/F: Camelids experience a full estrous cycle.

Answer 16

FALSE

Question 17

T/F: Camelids have a 24 hour refractory period after breeding where a second LH spike will not occur.

Answer 17

TRUE

Question 18

Where do the vast majority of oocytes in the camelid come from?

Answer 18

The Left Uterine Horn

Question 19

Name some drugs used to terminate camelid pregnancies.

Answer 19

• Cloroprostenol
• Dinoprost
• Prostaglandins (be VERY careful)

Question 20

T/F: Camelid plasma progesterone concentrations will rise significantly after breeding regardless of pregnancy.

Answer 20

TRUE

Question 21

There are two measurable peaks of estrone sulfate in camelid pregnancy. What is the significance of each?

Answer 21

Peak 1 –> occurs 21-27 days into pregnancy, may indicate implantation
Peak 2 –> occurs in the last month of pregnancy, shows fetal vitality

Question 22

What is the formula for calculating gestational age of the camelid fetus?

Answer 22

GA = 18.8 + (3.79 * BPD)

BPD –> Fetal biparietal diameter

Question 23

Describe the camelid placenta.

Answer 23

• Diffuse
• Epitheliochorial
• Non-deciduate

Question 24

T/F: Udder development and teat waxing are an effective way of determining impending camelid parturition.

Answer 24

FALSE

These events can happen the day before, or even the day of parturition.

Question 25

Describe the epidermal membrane of camelids.

Answer 25

• Unique to camelids
• Arises from fetal epidermis
• Attaches at musculocutaneous junctions of the infant