Male reproductive assessment Flashcards
What is BSE?
Breeding soundness evaluation - quick, economic procedure to screen bulls for breeding potential
- identifies SATISFACTORY, not superior bulls
- places bulls in reasonably predictable groups
WORKS BEST AT IDENTIFYING INFERTILE & SUBFERTILE MALES
(DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO PREDICT FERTILITY)
When would a reproductive exam be performed?
if infertility is suspected pre-breeding/joining pre-purchase insurance purposes (intensity of exam = projected use of bull)
How is puberty measured in cows?
void viable sperm with 50 million with >10% motility
OR
scrotal circumference ~27cm
Bull BSE components…
general physical exam reproductive exam scrotal circumference semen collection semen assessment report others...libido/serving capacity test? disease test?
General physical exam…
muscles, limbs, eyes (most important sense for oestrus detection), sheath, testicles, “toes”, movement
(supposed to be sexual athlete!)
Factors affecting physical ability to mate…
back & leg probs poor vision cork screw penis persistence of frenulum prolapse of prepuse penile haematoma/ broken penis
Main reason for culling?
arthritis ~50% due to grain feeding as yearlings
Reproductive exam…
External genitalia - penis - testis, scrotum - epidid, ductus deferens - scrotal neck Internal genitalia - pelvic urethra - accessory sex glands (prostate, ampullae, seminal vesicle)
Describe scrotal circumference…
simple & inexpensive - using scrotal tape
repeatable & reproducable
heritable (0.4 - 0.6)
highly correlated with DSP
correlated with age of puberty in heifer offspring
correlated with fertility of female offspring
correlated with age of puberty in bulls
A bull at 18 months should have a scrotal circumference of …cm?
32cm
Semen collection…
artificial vag.
electroejaculation
massage
chemical
Serving ability test is what?
qualitative test of libido & ability to mount, enter & ejaculate
Serving capacity test is what?
quantitative to estimate no. of cows mated over time
