Module 3 Management Of Ruminant Breeding Stock Flashcards by Rutchen Bello

is probably the single most important factor affecting the economics and profitability of beef cattle breeding operations.

Reproduction

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is reproduction for bulls?

is all about the capacity and ability to sire a large number of viable offspring in each mating year.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is reproduction for cow?

reproduction is all about the capacity to conceive and rear a calf to weaning each year
following puberty.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

forms the basis of livestock improvement as it allows the transfer of genetic material from one generation to the next and can greatly influence genetic gain.

Reproduction

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

after successful mating it follows whereby the egg is fertilized by sperm

conception

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

conception is followed by what? Whereby the fetus grows inside the uterus until birth/calving.

Pregnancy or gestation period

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

calving intervals of cow

365 days

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The basic production cycle for cattle

9 months gestation period
Birth on grass
Calf stays with cow until weaning
Being put with peers to grow until reaching finishing weight

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

At weaning calves are giving what?

Given injection
Tags
Castrated
Branded

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Most of this cow will have a calf every year until they are culled for low performance

Brood cows

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Many factors influence and can impact on reproductive performance
Improved management of reproduction

Nutrition
Genetic selection strategies to improve profitability
Focusing selection on the economically important criteria and traits related to fertility

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Percent of improvements in weaning rates that are possible through improving nutrition

5-10%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Reproductive function can be improved by what?

focusing selection on the economically important criteria and traits related to fertility.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Is influence by a number of independent traits

Reproduction performance

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Reproductive Measures for the bulls include:

Physical and structural soundness
Scrotal size and sperm production capacity
Semen quality, including morphology
Serving ability/ serving capacity

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Reproductive Measures for the cow include:

• weight and age at first estrous cycle
• the inter-calving interval
• lactation status at subsequent pregnancy diagnosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Reproductive Measures for the breeder herd include:

• branding and/or weaning rates
• kilograms of calf weaned per 100 kg of cow mated.
• conception rates determined by pregnancy diagnosis (PD)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Limitation of reproductive measures

• fertility cannot be assessed directly for bulls.
• pregnancy status for cows requires skills in pregnancy diagnosis, which should be coupled with an assessment of lactation status.
• branding and weaning rates (in isolation) do not provide indications of when or where reproductive losses may be occurring.
• unless birth dates are known and a restricted joining period used, a slight ‘creep’ in inter-calving interval can often be overlooked.
• it is important to consider that these rates must be calculated for a standard or specific period of time (e.g., 12 months) to allow accurate analysis and comparison

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Should be coupled with an assessment of lactation status.

Skills in pregnancy diagnosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why it is important to consider that these rates must be calculated for a standard or specific period of time (e.g., 12 months)?

Allow accurate analysis and comparison

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

it requires a satisfactory physical examination and minimum values for scrotal circumference, motility and morphology.

Satisfactory potential breeder

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

any bull not meeting minimums is classified either as?

Unsatisfactory potential breeder
Classification deferred

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

minimum recommended morphology of a sperm

70% normal cells

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

primary sperm abnormalities

• underdeveloped
• double forms
• acrosome defect
• narrow heads
• crater/ diadem defect acrosomal
• pear-shaped defect
• abnormal contour
• small abnormal head
• free abnormal head

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

secondary sperm abnormalities

• small normal heads • giant and short broad acrosome • free normal head • detached, folded, loose membranes • abaxial implantation • distal droplet • simple bent tail • terminally coiled tail

were identified as most important culling criteria for beef bulls.

Physical unsoundness Infertility

it is the most important trait of a bull

bull’s fertility

is an integral part of bull’s fertility. The bull’s ability to remain fertile is dependent on this

physical or structural soundness

. the way it grows often indicates structural problems higher up the legs.

Claws of the feet

may indicate too much or not enough pastern angle, causing both claws of the

hoof to grow or wear excessively

it affects the mobility and performance of the animals

overgrown claw

the feet structure should avoid this

overgrown, scissor or curved claws

overgrown, uneven claws are usually indication of what?

Poor limb structure or early sign of hip arthritis

The degree of the angle in the leg joint is less than ideal

sickle hocked

when the hocks are rotated inwards and the hooves rotated outwards

cow hocked

it should be trim and close to the body

sheath

is housed within the prepuce and sheath

penis

is the inner lining of the sheath and is pink mucosa, seen at the end of the sheath.

Prepuce

major factors influencing scrotal size

genotype age liveweight nutrition timing of nutritional stress

Common conditions that interfere with fertility and can be diagnosed by palpation of include:

unequal size of testicles hardness of one or both testicles thickened scrotal skin. softness and flabbiness of testicles and tail of epididymis

Bull wastage can be due to factors that includes:

Structural defects resulting in lameness; inability to serve Degenerative conditions limiting serving ability Age structure in the bull team Reproductive abnormalities Infertility due to testicular degeneration Infertility due to disease effect Traumatic injuries due to fighting

Veterinarians should carry this examination

• Checking the bulls overall structure including legs, feet and external reproductive organ are free from defects • Assessing the sheath, scrotum and testicle • Measuring and recording scrotal circumference to ensure it is within the acceptable limit • Palpating of the testicle to check for normal tone, size and function • Collecting a semen sample and do microscopic examination

Sign of estrous

Behavioral changes Swelling of vulva and vagina Vaginal mucus discharge adhering to tail and legs Abrasion of skin Ruffling of tail hair Increased tone in the uterus and cervix on palpation

The length of estrus is affected by:

Breed Nutrition Temperature stress Age Transport stress Ovarian abnormalities Uterine infection

Average duration of estrus

6-18 hours

The embryo leaves the fallopian tubes and enters the uterus at about how many days.

Six or seven days

Duration of pregnancy in cattle ranges from what?

270 to 290 days

Four major categories of breeder

Wet and pregnant Wet and empty Dry and pregnant Dry and empty

It tends to conceive early in the season as they are in better body condition and the lactating cows conceive

Dry cows

Reproductive cycle is prolonged longer than 35-45 days after calving

Post-partum anestrus

Is the most important non-genetic factor influencing conception in beef cows.

Nutrition

Are the key determination on age at first joining

Growth rates

Five point scale for condition scoring

Emaciated Thin Moderate Good Fat

2 practical techniques in reducing energy requirement

To reduce the nutritional trough by the use of supplement Weaning

Will be needed to sustain the young weaner so it feed the weaner so it suffer no disadvantages from having its milk supply terminated

Bypass protein

Why genetic of the herd is worthwhile

Cheap Permanent Cumulative

In inter-calving interval it is often be over-looked .

Creep

Most Disease carried by bull

Vibriosis Trichomoniasis Rhinotracheitis

Puberty in bulls

18-24 months

Calf output

Number of mounts Mounts plus serves Libido score

Is the most important semen characteristic of a bull going into natural mating, and is an accurate forecast of his paddock fertility

Percentage normal sperm

Is the most important criterion in assessing bull fertility

Scrotal size

Integral part of bull’s fertility

Physical soundness

This means bulls may not contribute significantly to the herd productive rate , and thus do not pass on their desirable growth or carcass traits

Sub-fertility

In tropical beef it is the major factor influencing puberty .

nutrition

Desired weight of cattle

280-300kg

Ovulation occurs in what hour after the end of estrous

10-15 hrs

Behavioral estrus may recommence at what day? .

35-45 day

Duration of pregnancy in cattle? .

270-290

Tend to conceive early in the season as they are in better body condition

Dry cows

. Ater calving the reproductive tract and ovaries of a cow should return to normal and reproductive cycle commerce

Post calving

Prolonged cycling after parturition

Post-partum anestrus

The single most important determining factor in reproductive management and getting cow back in calf.

Condition score

Will reduce the energy requirement of the dam by almost half

Weaning of calf

Involves mating period by removing the bulls from the breeding herd

Seasonal or Controlled mating

Culling emphasis on what?

Fertility and functionality

Occurs when one member of a gene pair masks the effect of the other member of the gene pair.

Complete dominance

When there is intermediate outcome between the two effect

Partial dominance

Difference of individual within a population

Variation

. Is defined as proportion of superiority in a trait that is transmitted to the offspring

Heritability

. Difference between the mean of those selected to be parents and the mean of all potential parents.

Selection differential

This is the average age of the parents when offspring are born or in simple terms, the time interval between the same age in the life cycle of two successive generation.

Generation interval

Means that large portion of young animals are introduced each year, leading to large culling of older animals

Short generation interval

. Measures of genetic differences between animals, expressed as the unit for each trait in positive and negative term. .

Estimated breeding values

Dedicated software to find the best fit for all pieces of information, for all traits in question and all the animals in the analysis simultaneously

blup

. Not closely related, within same breed.

Outbreeding

Mating of the animals belonging to two different breed .

Cross breeding

Mating of unrelated pure breed animal

Out crossing

. Is the system of breeding mostly used for genetic improvement of cattle?

Cross breeding

Is the method used for genetic improvement of buffaloes .

Grading up

Is implanted into the ear. .

Growth stimulating implant

Feed additive often use on cow-calf operation

Antibiotics

Is approved for treatment of bovine respiratory disease complex and prevention of anaplasmosis. .

Chlortetracycline

Are special type of medical feed additives called ionophores

Monensin Lasalocid

Its mode of action is to change the microbial population of the rumen. Selective against certain bacteria and protozoa.

Ionophores

Commonly found in feedlots

Monensin

Commonly used in cow-calf and stocker operation

Lasalosid

Dewormers available as top-dresser

Anthelmintics

As feed additive to suppress horn flies

Larvacides

Stops the normal hormone production sequence that produces estrus

Melengestrol acetate

. New to feedlot cattle increase lean disposition and weight gain

Beta-agonist

Sustaining a higher ruminal PH under concentrate feeding to prevent sub-acute acidosis, .

Direct fed microbial

Are structures that are moderately heritable .

Leg and foot

Why is it that scrotal size is a useful criterion for assessing bull fertility

It is easily measured and is repeatable, It is related to a bull’s own fertility, Finally, it is genetically correlated

It is examined under a microscope to assess factors such as volume, color, density and motility.

Crush side

Is the sexual desire of male to serve a receptive female.

Libido

Part of the breeding soundness examination enables farmers to first identify bulls that are able to serve while reducing the risk of bull failure in single sire mating. It is also a measure of the sex drive .

Serving capacity test

Puberty in bulls is achieved in how many months

14-18 months

Factors influencing when bulls reach puberty include: .

Genetics effects Nutritional influences

Often have fat deposits in the neck of the scrotum .

Bulls fed on grain diets Those having surplus protein and energy

Can produce swelling of the joint capsule of the hocks in some bulls.

Grain diets

Reproductive in females is hormonally driven and influence by what?

Nutrition Genetics Management factor

Puberty in female define as what As the age at first estrous when ovulation also occurs/onset of sexual maturity 115 116.

. Average duration of estrus 6-18 hrs

The exact timing of different breeding activities will depend on what?

Location Seasonal condition Management system

At peak lactation a cow will need up to how many energy and protein ?

Twice energy she does as a dry cow and up to three times the protein

This can place the lactating cow under such stress that she has difficulty in maintaining nutrient supply for reproductive function with a consequent reduction in fertility. In some cases the cow may even die as hormonal regulation

Nutritional demand and nutritional availability

Are naturally correlated with pasture quality and availability In younger cattle

Growth rate

The best practical assessment of nutritional needs of reproducing beef cows

Assessing changes in body condition score

. Options to achieve good body condition score

Supplementation Grazing management and adjustment of stock rate Paddock rotation Weaning to reduce nutritional demand for the breeder

Are the most economical means available supplements

Protein supplement especially non-protein nitrogen supplement such as urea-based mixes

Is the most practical form of supplementation of the breeder cow

Weaning

Are the most difficult breeders to get back in calf as they are still growing as well as producing milk

First-calf heifers

Maiden heifer with additional protein in the later stages of their pregnancy will improve conception rates after they calves.

Spike -feeding

. This is the difference between the mean of those selected to be parents and the mean of all potential parents.

Selection differential

12. Is the average age of parents when their offspring are born or in simple terms, the time interval between the same age in the life cycle of two successive generation. .

Generation interval

This process has limited use in achieving improvement in most production traits and it has minimal value in selecting for cascass traits. It can also used to asses phenotype and this also happens in isolation from knowledge of the environment effects that the animals has undergone

Visual selection

14. The solution provides the best estimate of the genetic merit of the animals

Best linear unbiased prediction

15. This program that provides a genetic description of cattle for a range of traits in the major are of growth, carcass performance, and fertility. It is where common sire linkages occur with other groups, comparison can be made across groups.

Breed plan

15. Allows comparison of animals across herd-most reported EBV

GROUP BREED PLAN

Have proved a good guide to the performance of animals in a commercial herd enterprise.

Breed plan EBV's

Describe the profitability of animals based on the summation of their individual traits or EBVs. markers

Index selection results

. Can be used to customized a selection index for the producer's particular situation

. Breed Object

Is an amalgamation of all available EBVs using appropriate weighting calculated for individual beef producers in different environment, targeting different market .

Index selection

They give the industry the potential to identify and select animals for specific traits at an early age.

Gene marking

It lowered production in terms of milk yield and fat %, increased susceptibility to disease resulting in more mortality.

Inbreeding

Breeding the farm animals which are not closely related withing the same breed . Most popular in breeding the dairy herds.

Out breeding

Mating of the unrelated pure breed animals within the same breed.

Out crossing

Mating of the animals belonging to two different breeds.

Cross breeding

25. Offers maximum individual heterosis and maternal heterosis .

Triple crossing

Are often used for very temporary identification

Paint brands and stick on tags

Is widely used by breed registry association and cowherd performance testing program as a method of a permanent identification

Ear tattoo

Is second in use to the ear tattoo as a permanent means of individual animal identification usually applied with a hot iron

Number brand

Most widely used method of temporary identification

Soft-type plastic ear tags

Bloodless methods of castration

Emasculating or clamping Elastration

Is the practice of providing supplemental feed, usually grain, to nursing calves in a facility that prohibits the brood cow from having access to the feed.

Creed feeding

Module 3 Management Of Ruminant Breeding Stock Flashcards

(145 cards)