Bovine reproduction Flashcards
(169 cards)
1
Q
What is the definition of fertility?
A
The ability of a cow to give birth to a live calf at approximately 12 month intervals
2
Q
What is the definition of sterility?
A
The total inability of a cow to become pregnant/give birth to a live calf
3
Q
What is infertility/subfertility?
A
Cow can become pregnant and give birth to a live calf but the interval may be longer than 12 months
4
Q
What are some main reproductive difficulties?
A
Failure to cycle Failure to be mated Failure to conceive Dystocia Stillbirths Neonatal mortality
5
Q
What are the two things that can happen to a follicle?
A
Ovulates or atreses
6
Q
How long is a normal cow oestrous cycle?
A
21 days
7
Q
What is a normal post partum cyclicity pattern?
A
3 weeks post partum - small rise in progesterone due to an short lived corpus luteum
Then goes into a normal 3 week cycle
8
Q
What other post partum cyclicity patterns are there?
A
Long anoestrus - suckling calf
Persistent luteal phase - abnormal
9
Q
What is involution of the uterus?
A
Repairing the uterus
10
Q
How long do you have to get the cow back pregnant for the 12 month cycle?
A
85 days
11
Q
When is puberty in heifers?
A
7-18 months
35-40% of mature body weight
12
Q
What is the age that cows are first served?
A
14-22 months
Best to calve at 2 years
13
Q
What is the average duration of oestrus?
A
6 hrs
14
Q
How and when do cows ovulate?
A
Spontaneously 9-15hrs after the end of standing oestrus
15
Q
When is it best to inseminate a cow?
A
6 hrs
At mid oestrus
16
Q
What is a common cause of poor reproductive performance?
A
Poor oestrus detection
17
Q
What are the most reliable signs of oestrus?
A
Standing to be mounted
Mounting the head and neck of other cows
18
Q
When is the first post partum oestrus?
A
15-30 days after calving
19
Q
What is the first post partum oestrus like?
A
Behavioural oestrus is absent bcos brain needs to be primed with progesterone
20
Q
What should the BCS be at calving?
A
3 so it doesnt drop below 2.5 at service
21
Q
What is the average length of gestation?
A
285 days
22
Q
How long is the gestation period to be considered abortion?
A
Shorter than 270 days
23
Q
Why should you perform a breeding soundness exam on a bull?
A
Can cause major financial impact on a farm
Welfare
24
Q
When should you perform a breeding soundness exam?
A
Pre purchase
Pre breeding season
For an infertility investigation
25
What are the steps of a breeding soundness exam?
```
Take history
Clinical exam
Semen collection/evaluation
Test mating
Prognosis
```
26
What are the 4 different categories of inability to mate?
Good libido but hesitant about mounting
Failure to exteriorise penis
Penis exteriorised but no intromission
Intromission but no thrusting
27
What can cause no thrusting?
Damage to the dorsal nerve of the penis - dont know penis is in vagina
28
How can you examine the penis safely without causing damage?
Xylazine - relax retractor penis muscle
| Before/after mating - deviate to one side and look
29
What is the most common traumatic condition of the bovine penis?
Penile haematoma
30
What can cause penile haematoma?
Sudden angulation of penis/miss thrust
| Tears tunica albuginea of corpus cavernosum at sigmoid flexure
31
What are the signs of penile haematoma?
Swelling cranial to scrotum
| reluctance to serve, cant extrude penis
32
What is a complication of penile haematoma?
Abscessation
Damage to dorsal nerve of penis
Cant raise blood pressure in penis and get erection
33
What occurs to the penis normally during intromission?
Deviates ventrally and to the right
34
What is the main sign of spiral deviation of the penis?
Failure to extrude penis
35
What is phimosis?
Stricture of the preputial orifice
36
What does phimosis cause?
Failure to extrude the penis
37
What can cause phimosis?
Injury or infection
38
What is paraphimosis?
Can get the penis out of the prepuce but cant withdraw it
39
What does paraphimosis lead to?
Strangulation
40
What is balanoposthitis?
Inflammation of the penis and prepuce
41
What can cause balanoposthitis?
Infection
Trauma
BHV 1
Mycoplasma
42
What is the name of warts on the penis?
Fibropapilloma
43
What are signs or papilloma?
Bleeding at service
Pain at intromission
Phimosis/paraphimosis
44
What is impotence?
Cant get an erection
45
What are the two reasons for impotence?
Shunt for the blood
| Blockage of proximal penis
46
What are some causes of impotence?
Congenitally large veins draining penis
Traumatic injury
Blockage by fibrous tissue/thrombus/haematoma
47
How do you assess the musculoskeletal system of bull?
Observe gait and posture
Lameness
Conformation
48
What change to the testes can cause infertility?
If held high/too close to body they will be too hot
49
What should testes be?
Similar in size
Round
Not too close to body
Symmetrical
50
What can cause testicular hypoplasia?
Inherited defect
| XXY chromosome
51
What is a feature of testicular degeneration?
Failure of spermatogenesis
52
What can cause testicular degeneration?
Systemic infection
Trauma
Hot/cold
Autoimmunity
53
What are the 4 main causes of an enlarged testicle?
Orchitis
Abcess
Haematoma
Neoplasia
54
What can cause orchitis?
Wound
Ascending infection
Truporella pyogenes
55
What are the main features of orchitis?
Usually unilateral
| Often accompanied by periorchitis/epididymitis
56
What is epididymal occlusion?
Blocked epididymis
57
What can epididymal occlusion cause?
Spermatocoele - cystic dilation
Sperm granuloma after rupture of epididymal wall
Testicular degeneration
58
What is seminal vesiculitis?
Normal penis and testes but abnormal ejaculate with not enough seminal fluid
59
What are the signs of acute seminal vesiculitis?
Severe pain
Purulent discharge
Pus in semen
Enlarged
60
What are the signs of chronic seminal vesiculitis?
Pus in semen
Fibrosis
Loss of lobulations
No pain
61
How do you collect semen?
Electroejaculation
Artificial vagina
Massage ampulla per rectum
62
What should you assess in semen evaluation?
```
Volume
Colour
Wave motion
Motility - linear
Live:dead ratio
```
63
What does semen evaluation show?
Potential to sire calves
| Only true test is calves on the ground
64
How do you sex sperm?
Sort using flow cytometry - female sperm contain more DNA than male
65
What is the definition of abortion?
Production of one or more calves less than 271 days after service/AI
They are dead or alive for less than 24 hours
66
When is the level of abortion frequency an issue?
When it exceeds 3-5%
67
How are infectious agents of abortion classified?
Sexually transmitted
Non sexually transmitted
Primary - act directly on the repro tract
Secondary - cause systemic disease
68
What action should be taken following abortion?
Must report to DEFRA (not all investigated tho)
| Isolate cow and calf
69
What are the main causes of viral infectious abortion?
BVD
BHV-1
Schmallenberg virus
70
What are the main bacterial causes of infectious abortion?
```
Bacillus licheniformis
Lepto
Salmonella
Campylobacter fetus venerealis
Mycoplasma
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
```
71
What protozoa can cause infectious abortion?
Neospora caninum
72
What are 3 reasons that cause of abortion cant be identified?
Cause occured much earlier
Foetus retained for a while
Foetal membranes not available
73
What are the most common causes of infectious abortion?
```
Bacillus licheniformis
Neospora caninum
Trueperella pyogenes
Schmallenberg
aspergillus fumigatus
Salmonella dublin
Bovine viral diarrhoea
Listeria
```
74
How can BHV-1 be transmitted?
Venereally
75
What are the main features of leptospirosis?
Abortion
Infertility
Milk drop
Zoonotic - flu-like
76
When should you vaccinate against lepto?
Turnout at spring
| With antibiotics to remove infection
77
How do you diagnose salmonella abortion?
Cotelydons/foetal stomach contents
78
Where is bacillus licheniformis found?
Mouldy hay, silage
79
How is bacillus licheniformis diagnosed?
Gross appearance of placenta, isolate
80
How is campylobacter foetus transmitted?
Venereally from bull
81
How is campylobacter foetus diagnosed/noticed?
Repeat breeders
Vaginal microscopic agglutination
Semen exam
82
How is campylobacter treated?
Antibiotics
| Penile irrigation
83
What is the main sign of mycoplasmosis?
Granular vulvovaginitis
| Abortion
84
What are the clinical signs of Chlamydophila psittaci?
Early embryonic death
| Abortion in late pregnancy
85
How is brucella transmitted?
Ingestion - most common
| Venereally
86
What can brucella cause?
Abortion storms
87
What must be done when diagnosing brucella?
Report to DEFRA
| Take swabs
88
How is brucella controlled?
Monthly bulk milk test
89
What is the most common cause of mycotic abortion?
Aspergillus
90
What are signs of mycotic abortion?
Placentitis/endometritis
| Retained placenta
91
How is neospora transmitted?
Dog to cow
| Vertically - cow to calf
92
What does neospora cause?
Midterm abortion and mummification
93
How do you control neospora?
Cull infected cattle
| Restrict dog access
94
What is trichomoniasis?
Protozoa
95
How is trichomonas transmitted? How can it be controlled?
Venereally
| AI
96
What are some non infectious causes of abortion?
```
Genetic,
twin pregnancy,
stress,
nutritional deficiency,
hypothyroidism,
drug induced - PROSTAGLANDINS
```
97
What counts as early embryonic death?
Dies before day 15
| Repeat breeders
98
What counts as late embryonic death?
Embryo dies between days 15 and 42
| Irregular oestrus interval
99
What counts as foetal death?
Between day 43 and term
100
What can foetal death cause?
resorption, abortion, mummification, maceration
101
What occurs during foetal mummification?
Foestus dies and dehydrates
CL persists
Pseudopregnant, doesnt calve at expected time
No udder development
102
How do you treat foetal mummification?
PGF2a - to induce oestrus
103
What is foetal maceration?
Incomplete process of abortion
104
When does foetal maceration occur?
Occurs after third month of gestation
105
What occurs during foetal maceration?
Partial dilation of cervix
Allows bacteria in
Bacteria break down foetal soft tissues and leave bones
106
How is foetal maceration treated?
Usually culled
| May be able to surgically remove
107
What is hydrops?
Excessive accumulation of foetal fluids
108
What is hydramnios?
Failure of swallowing of foetal fluids by the foetus causing hydrops
109
What is hydrallantois?
Failure of the selective resorption of elecrtolytes from allantois causing hydrops
110
How do you treat hydrops/hydrallantois?
PGF2a - induce abortion
| May need c section
111
What can cause uterine rupture?
Mismanagement of dystocia
112
What are the signs of uterine rupture?
cessation of labour, shock, pain, haemorrhage
113
What can cause vaginal prolapse?
Breed
Overfeeding
Lack of exercise
114
How do you treat vaginal prolapse?
Epidural
| Purse string suture
115
How is foetal maceration treated?
Usually culled
| May be able to surgically remove
116
What are some signs of impending calving?
Increased udder development
Relaxation of pelvic ligaments, perineum and vulva
Oedema of ventral abdominal wall
117
What hormone is produced by the hypothalamus during parturition?
Corticotrophin releasing factor CRF
118
What hormone is produced by the pituitary grand during parturition?
Adrenocorticotrophin hormone
119
What hormone is produced by the adrenal grand during parturition?
Cortisol
120
What hormone is produced by the placenta during parturition?
Oestrogen
Prostaglandin
Some progesterone
121
What causes increase in oxytocin production from the pituitary gland during parturition?
Increased pressure on cervix and vagina from increased contractions
122
What are the two biggest causes of dystocia?
Foetopelvic disproportion - big calf small heifer
| Foetal disposition
123
What are the signs of the second stage of parturition?
Rupture of allantochorion – allantoic fluid escapes
124
What are the signs of the third stage of parturition?
Uterine contractions
Placental detachment
Umbilical rupture Cotyledon detachment
125
When in gestation can parturition be induced in cows?
After 260 days of gestation
126
What drugs should you use to induce calving before 100 days of gestation?
PGF2a
127
What drugs should you use to induce calving 250-275 days into gestation?
Corticosteroid
128
What drugs should you use to induce calving after 275 days of gestation?
Corticosteroid plus PGF2a
129
How can you treat vaginal/uterine tears?
Clamp and stitch
| Slaughter maybe
130
What does clenbuterol do?
Relaxes uterus at parturition
| Help with dystocia/C section etc.
131
What can you give to aid with intense straining during dystocia?
Epidural
132
What is a foetotomy?
Removal of body parts via a saw which hindered the expulsion of the foetus
133
Which breeds have a disposition for uterine torsion?
Brown swiss and hostein
134
What is the most common uterine torsion?
90 degrees
135
How do you treat uterine torsion?
Rock calf as cow is standing, C-section, laparotomy
136
How do you treat post partum haemorrhage of uterus/vagina/placenta?
Ligate
Clamp
Pack
Oxytocin
137
What is uterine prolapse associated with?
Prolonged parturition
| Hypocalcaemia
138
How can you treat uterine prolapse?
```
IV Ca2+
Epidural
Invert uterus
NSAIDs
Oxytocin
Suture vulva
```
139
What does gluteal nerve paralysis cause?
weak hindlimbs
140
What does obturator nerve paralysis cause?
Splay laterally
141
What is lochia?
Post partum discharge
Sloughing of tissue from caruncles
Reddish brown and odourless
142
What are the common bacteria that invade the uterus post partum when the cervix is still open?
T pyogenes
E coli
Staphs and streps
143
What can bacterial invasion of the uterus cause?
Acute metritis
| Chronic endometritis
144
How can bacterial invasion of the uterus affect fertility?
killing conceptus, alter uterine milk, endometritis, delay onset of ovarian cyclicity
145
What is acute metritis?
Bacterial infection following dystocia
| Associated with retained placenta
146
How do you treat acute metritis?
Broad spectrum antibiotic
IV fluids
NSAIDS
147
What is endometritis?
Inflammation of the endometrium
148
How does endometritis present?
Mucopurulent vaginal discharge - whites
149
When does endometritis present ?
21 days or mroe after calving
150
How can you treat endometritis?
PGF2a - return to oestrus, terminate CL
Intrauterine antibiotics
Saline washout
151
How can you diagnose pyometra in cows?
Ultrasound - thick uterine wall
152
What antibiotic do you give for endometritis?
Metricure - cephapirin/cephalosporin
153
What are retained foetal membranes? How long are they retained for?
Partial or complete retention beyond 12 hours post partum
154
What causes retained foetal membranes?
Failure of normal separation of foetal cotyledonary villi from maternal caruncles
155
What can predispose to retained foetal membranes?
premature parturition, placentitis, uterine inertia
156
What can retained foetal membranes cause?
Acute metritis
| May just cause spontaneous expulsion
157
How can you treat retained foetal membranes ?
Antibiotics - Oxytetracycline
| Manual removal - not ideal
158
What is a cystic follicle in cystic ovarian disease?
Persistent anovulatory follicle like structure
159
What are features of a follicular cyst?
Thin walled
| Non progesterone producing - irregular/oestrous behaviour or anoestrus
160
What are features of a luteal cyst?
Thicker walled
| Progesterone producing - anoestrus
161
How can you treat cystic ovarian disease?
GnRH/hCG - mimic LH surge to lutenise the structure
| PGF2a
162
What is false anoestrus?
Oestrus not observed/detected
163
What is true anoestrus?
Interference with GnRH/LH
164
What can cause anoestrus?
```
Inadequate energy intake
Suckling
Delayed uterine involution
Cystic ovarian disease
Persistant CL
```
165
How can you treat anoestrus?
PG injection
| CIDR or PRID plus PGF2a - mimic CL, then remove
166
What hormone treatments will enhance fertility?
GnRH holding injection
Chorionic gonadotrophin
PRID/CIDR - then remove
All at day 12
167
What is a repeat breeder cow?
Cow that fails to become pregnant following 3 or more consecutive services at normal interoestrus intervals
168
What causes repeat breeders?
Failure of fertilisation
| Early embryonic death
169
How do you treat repeat breeders?
Improve condition
| Holding injection
