Bovine Therio: Infertility

Question 1

Best measure of reproductive efficiency is ________-

Answer 1

Pregnancy rate
pregnancy rate = heat detection x conception rate

Question 2

Poor pregnancy rates result in …

Answer 2

↑ age at first calving heifers, interval from calving to first service, interval from calving to conception, and service per conception
Early culling

Question 3

Reasons for poor pregnancy rate

Answer 3

Poor heat detection or failure to cycle
Abnormal cycles
Poor conception (cow, semen/bull, technician)

Question 4

Most common causes of poor reproductive performance in heifers

Answer 4

Anestrus (congenital abnormalities, poor nutrition and poor heat detection)
Poor conception rate

Question 5

Freemartin

Answer 5

Females born with co-twin male
Female fetus exposed to Anti-mullerian hormone and testosterone due to anastomosis of placental vasculature

Question 6

External genitalia in Freemartin

Answer 6

May be normal
Large amount of hair on the vulva

Question 7

Internal genitalia in Freemartin

Answer 7

Short vagina
Uterine horn and cervix underdeveloped cord like\
Aplastic/ hypoplastic ovaries
Male accessory glands (seminal vesicles)

Question 8

Freemartin Dx

Answer 8

Transrectal palpation
Vaginal probe: completely inserted is normal
Cytogenetics** → chimera (XX/XY), detect Y ag

Question 9

Segmental apalasia/ White heifer disease

Answer 9

Recessive sex-linked gene of white hair coat
Breeds: Belgian blue, shorthorn**
Segmental aplasia of the paramesonephric duct

Question 10

Internal genitalia of White Heifer disease

Answer 10

Normal ovaries
Variable degree of persistent hymen and segmental aplasia of the cervix
Mucometra

Question 11

Cystic ovarian diseases

Answer 11

> 25 mm for more than 10 days in absence of a CL
10-30% in dairy, >50% resolve spontaneously
Behavior: Nymphomania (persistently in estrus), anestrus*, rarely normal cycles

Question 12

Factors contributing to cystic ovarian disease

Answer 12

Adrenal hyperfusion
Postpartum uterine infection and diseases
High production (> 3 parity)
Genetics
High Se levels

Question 13

Cystic ovarian disease characteristics

Answer 13

2 types of cysts: follicular and luteal
Prevention difficult

Question 14

Cystic ovarian disease treatment

Answer 14

GnRH of hCG followed by PGF2a

Question 15

Inactive ovary will have a ________ surface

Answer 15

Smooth

Question 16

Anestrus

Answer 16

Small inactive ovaries
Persistent luteal function (persistent CL and pyometra)

Question 17

Causes of ovarian inactivity

Answer 17

Nutrition: Poor growth/ parasitism, trace mineral deficiencies, negative energy balance (too much milk so all energy to lactation)

Question 18

Cow factors leading to poor conception rate

Answer 18

Uterine disease (endometritis) ***
Failure of ovulation
Change in body condition

Question 19

Environmental factors leading to poor conception rate

Answer 19

Heat stress: effects on oocyte quality (negative)

Question 20

Management of insemination leading to poor conception rate

Answer 20

Timing of insemination
Semen quality and handling
Insemination technique

Question 21

Endometritis

Answer 21

Clinal: vaginal discharge
Subclinical: endometrial cytology dx (no signs)

Question 22

Risk factors for development of clinical endometritis

Answer 22

Retained placenta
Stillbirth
Twinning
Dystocia
Parity

Question 23

Risk factors for development of subclinical endometritis

Answer 23

Acute metritis
Ketosis
Stillbirth
Twinning
ME30 x Parity

Question 24

Effects of heat stress on temperature

Answer 24

> 26C/ 78-79F
↑ rectal temp and resp. rate

Question 25

Effect of heat stress on reproduction

Answer 25

↓ oocyte quality, progesterone production and steroidgenesis
↑ granulosa cells, degeneration
Reduced embryo quality
Last over several cycles