Lab Practical 1 Flashcards
How are boars housed at the Swine Educational Unit, and why are they managed this way?
Boars are housed individually or in group pens depending on their age and whether they display aggressive behavior towards the other boars
A piece of gauze was placed on the top of the collection cup prior to semen collection. What is the pirpose of the gauze?
Its function is to collect the gel fraction of the ejaculate. To collect a viable ejaculate, the gauze prevents the gel fraction from entering the semen collection cup.
At what age will the NCSU Swine Educational Unit start to use a boar’s semen for breeding?
When the boar is 8 months of age
Which type of gloves were preferred during semen collection in boars? Why is this type used?
Vinyl gloves are used from collecting semen from boars at the SEU and it is used to reduce the change of killing sperm cells
What prevents boars from being collected using an artificial vagina?
To ejaculate, boars require pressure in addition to the proper temperature. The amount of pressure on the boars glans penis can not be achieved with an artificial vagina, thus we collect via a gloved hand.
What are the two exogenous reproductive hormones used in the NC Synch protocol
Gonadotropin releasing hormone-factrel-PGF2a-lutalyse
What is the length of the goat estrous cycle, and when do these animal generally display estrus?
Estrous cycle length-21 days
Seasonal breeders-display estrus in fall
What are two signs/symptoms that a doe is in estrus?
Interest in buck, raised tail, vocalizations, red/swollen vulva, sometimes mucus from the vagina is present
What is the site of semen deposition by AI and natural service in the doe?
AI-uterine body, natural service-vagina
What are two advantages and two disadvantages of using artificial insemination in small ruminants?
Advantages-introduce new genetics, new breeds, small herd dont want to mess with a buck
Disadvantages-requires more labor, more invasine, requires more equipment
What is the flushing effect?
increase the amount of feed prior to breeding, mostly increasing energy, about 1 month before introducing bucks. Hope to increase body weight, ovulation rate, and therefore litter size.
-must continue through breeding season and for 30-40 more days
-doesn’t work in does that are too fat (BCS 4-5) or too thin (BCS 2 or les)
What is the “buck effect” and how does it work?
Utilizing the buck effect to induce estrus:
-strategic exposure of does to intact males will result in the does displaying estrus approximately 7-10 days after the introduction of the buck
-bucks need to be isolated from does for this procedure to be effective
-buck must be out of the doe’s line of sight and sense of smell for an extended period of time, perhaps as long as several months
What is the purpose of conducting a breeding soundness exam and how often should it be done?
The purpose is to identify bulls that are capable of breeding and to identify individuals that may be injured and unable to breed females. A BSE should be conducted 30-60 days before breeding season
What is the main purpose of collecting heifer pelvic measurements?
Screening tool to identify heifers likely to have calving difficulties
What is the minimum scrotal circumstance size a yearling bull must have to pass its breeding soundness exam at the Beef Educational Unit?
32 cm, must have cm to get full point
