reproductive trchnologies

rectal palpation

horn enlargement - could also be caused by infection in uterus 

fluid

membrane slip - should be able to feel thin rubber band like structure = foetal membranes

fetus

cotyledons

fremitus - in uterine artery should get vibraation rather than strong pulse 

equine≥ 20-30 d

Bovine ≥ 35 d

purpose of pregnancy diagnosis

check for twins/triplets - higher risk, higher nutrition needed

check if not pregnant to then serve again 

correct feed

fertility 

economic impact on farmer

for if need to use drug that’s not safe for pregnant animals 

due-date

foetal sexing 

make sure foetus viable 

identify non-pregnant = rebreed or cull

ultrasonography

B-mode/ real-time

transrectal

transabdominal 

foetus and heartbeat

Equine ≥ 15 d

Bovine & Porcine ≥ 28 d

Canine ≥ 30 d

bladder vs uterus

ageing pregnancy

biparietal diameter - one eye socket to the other 

crown-rump length 

cotyledons

abnormalities

left image = 2 amniotic vesicles - only one contians foetus so must of lost one pregnancy

right image = filled with grey liquid = pyometra 

placental health

measure thickness

hormone assasys

progesterone(milk,blood) - day 0 and 21

• measure on day of service = should be low

• at 21 days if not concieved be back in oestrus so progesterone low, if concieved progesterone high

pregnancy-associated proteins - pregnancy-specific proteins(PSPB,PSP60), early-pregnancy factor(EPF), glycoprotein(PAG)

PMSG/ecG - day 40-130, endometrial cups (eventually regress around 4 months of pregnancy and have high levels of PMSG) 

oestrone sulphate( milk, blood, faeces) - in advancing pregnancy the placenta increases oestrone sulphate 

PD in small animals

palpation

ultrasonography

radiography

artificial insemination

advantage - large genetic pool, known traits, biosecurity, controllable, no mlae

disadvantage - oestrus detection/ control, handling, cost 

Get the semen by dummy, mouting block or use teaser animal

disease testing 

e.g. bull - bTB, IBR, BVD, venereal

antibiotic added to semen against campylobacter, leptospira, mycoplasma 

cryopreservation

horse and pig - fresh or chilled more common

straw

flask with liquid nitrogen

straw in cups inside flask

timing of insemination - cow AM/PM rule

oestrus on average 9-14hrs

ovulation 12-18 hrs after end of oestrus

allow time for sperm maturation/ movement

semen straw thawed in water bath → wipe dry

timing of insemination - mare

fresh or chilled semen more commonly used

semen lifespan in mare

• fresh = 72 hrs

• chilled = 36hrs

• frozen = 12hrs

variable life of ovum is shorter 

→ inseminate:

• fresh = 48h before to 6h after

• chilled = 24h before to 6h after

• frozen = 12h before to 6h after 

AI in bitch

transvaginal/ cervical only

surgical - not allowed in uk under animal welfare legislation

semen sexing

X sperm contain 3-5% more DNA

• attract more dye(fluorescent)

• flow cytometry

• sperm deactivation by laser

1 straw takes 5 mins

85-90% correct sex

<20% lower pregnancy rates 

embryo transfer

single

MOET - multiple ovulation and embryo transfer

avg 4.5 embryos/flush

55-65% PR

can repeat q8w

collection of embryos - flushing

trans-cervical

laparotomy/ laparoscopy 

embryo stage and quality

want to have a blastocyct

transfer of embryo into recipient

trans-cervical - using AI pipette

laparotomy/ laproscopy

in-vitro embryo production

ovum pick-up followed by in-vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture

can use in maiden females

acquired problems - if blockage in oviduct

genetic diversification 

more invasice and technical 

low pregnancy rate 

ovum pick up 

ICSI

intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection

in mare

can superovulate mares so use ICSI instead

cloning

nuclear cloning - any adult somatic cell

blastomere cloning 

controlling litter size

flushing(nutritional)

progesterone and PMSG

why do you want control onset of parturition/ induce parturition 

have people around to help - vet/staff

monitoring easier

be prepared

have shorter gestation if foetus is getting too big

diseased dam

controlling sow parturition

sow - PGF2 alpha on day 114, birth within 36hrs

induction of parturition - cattle

aftercare considerations

premature neonate - ventilation, energy/warmth, lung maturity

colostrum

retained foetal membranes 

misalliance

mare - fluprostenol at day 35

bitch - P4 receptor inhibitor < day 45

cow - PGF2alpha between day 6 and 150

goat - PGF2alpha

suppressing reproduction

progesterone - delvosteron: dog, cat and ferret - suppress heat or progesterone heat, altrenogest:mare

oxytocin - mare: extends life of CL

testosterone - bitchmegestrol acetate - dog, bitch, cat - no vet product currently 

tardak - dog: suppression of hypersexuality

anti-GnRH vaccine - canine 

why 

• not in right body condition 

• not enough space - housing males and females together

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