Production

Features of individual exams

* mucous membranes
* weight
* bcs
* PM?

Additional tests

* appropriate no. samples
* cost

Features of Data analysis

* test results
* treatment plans
* prevention
* changes to management

Sheep cycle length

17 days

Sheep ovulation

* Hoggets: 6hr
* 2 Tooth: 12-24hr
* MA ewes: 36 hr

Ewe gestation length

150 days

Sheep mating features

* short day breeders
* day length drives ovulation
* APRIL-MARCH

Pregnancy scanning of ewes

MA: 40-45d post ram removal

HOGGETS: 60d post ram removal

lambing

July-Nov

Docking

Nov

Weaning

Dec

Farm Factors Affecting Repro in sheep

* lower latitude cycle earier
* Increased longitude later oestrus
* Hoggets have shorter oestrus A

Animal Factors affecting Repro in sheep

* stress
* body condition score
* feed and pasture
* nutrition
* parasites
* repro diseases
* genetics
* age
* phyto-oestrogens
* zearalenone

Causes of Ovine abortions

1. Toxoplasmosis
2. campylobacter
3. Salmonella Brandenbergs

What is toxoplasmosis

* protozoal parasite
* infection by ingestion of oocytes
* I.P: long, 40 d

Toxoplasmosis outcomes

NON-PREG: lifetime immunity

EARLY: embryonic death (0-60)

MID: abortion (60-80)

LATE: weak lambs (80+)

Features of toxo

* low pregnancy scanning
* foetal death and reabsorption
* necrotic placental lesions
* mummification
* foetal necrotic brain lesions
* healthy ewes

Diagnosis of toxo

* histopath of foetal tissues
* antibody-titres
* Ewe blood samples

Controlling Toxo

* removal all contaminated aborted material
* live vaccine
* control feral cat populations

What is Campylobacter

* bacterial infection
* spred via direct contact
* mechanical transmission
* I.P: 2-3d

Features of Campy

* ewes asymptomatic
* abortion in last 6 wks
* fresh foetus
* liver necrosis
* oedematous placenta

Diagnosing Campy

* placental and foetal tissues
* affect \~50% of ewes

Prevention of Campy

* hygiene and a.b
* killed vaccine
* reduce stocking density
* don’t graze contaminated pastures

What is S. Brandenberg

* south island only
* trans: ingestion/ dir contact with aborted material
* live in enviro 4-6m
* large abortion storms

Features of S. Brandenberg

* h. mortality and morbidity
* enteric
* abortions in last 6 weeks
* necrotic macerated foetuses
* \~50% ewes die from necrotising metritis

Diagnosing S. Brandenberg

* foetal tissues- histopathy

Control of S. Brandenberg

* hygeine +/- a.b
* flock immunity
* killed virus vaccine

Samples to take

* foetal stomach contents
* thoracic and pericardial fluid
* formalin-fixed tissues

Cow BCS

* 4.5-5.5 BCS
* symmetrical abdomen, limb and udder

Cow TPR signs

* Temp: 38-39.3 C
* HR: 60-80 bpm
* RR: 10-30 bpm

Tail land marks

* supramammary LN
* Popliteal LN
* Hock
* Metatarsus
* Dew claws
* Tail head
* Tuber ischium
* Greater trochanter
* Vulva
* Udder

Caudal Left side landmarks

* Tuber coxae
* Wing of ilium
* Prefemoral LN
* Metatarsus
* Dew claws
* Tail head
* Tuber ischium
* Gluteal muscles
* Greater trochanter
* Quadriceps muscle
* popliteal LN
* Hock

External L side landmarks

* withers
* scapular
* prescapular LN
* jugular groove
* shoulder
* Brisket
* carpas
* olecranon
* Rumen
* Prefemoral LN
* lateral udder
* fetlock
* pastern
* hooves/claws

Internal L side landmarks

* RUMEN: gas, fibre mat, fluid + fibre
* reticulum
* lung
* heart

Features of rumen

* 2 contractions every 3 mins

Cow head landmarks

* ears
* eyes
* muzzle
* nasal planum
* poll
* lateral retrophrayngeal LN
* parotid LN
* sub mandibular LN

Oral cavity landmarks

* dental pad
* torus of tongue
* hard palate
* tongue
* incisors
* mucosa

Internal R side landmarks

* paralumbar fossa
* prefemoral LN
* Large intestine, caecum, rectum
* Small intestine
* Liver
* Lung
* Heart
* abomasum

Uses of velvet

* boost strength and endurance
* promote rapid recovery
* treat arthritis
* increase sexual activity/ erectile dysfunction

Antler morphology

Mature- multiple tynes ( royal, trez, brow)

Spikers- single tyne

Pedicle development

* increases diameter annually
* antlers grow from pedicle
* critical weight Red deer = 55kg
* no growth if early castration
* injury may cause abnormal antler growth

Annual growth cycle

* primary - OCT, peak rates of 2-3cm per day

\-harvest 60-65 post button drop
* secondary- FEB

Antler blood supply

* arteries are lateral
* veins are central
* branch from superficial temporal artery

Antler Innervation

* Trigeminal nerve

\-infratrochlear

\-zygomaticotemporal

\-auriculopalpebral (pedicle)

Antler removal

* controlled procedure
* must be carried out under vet supervision
* pass all 4 levels of NVSB certification

Antler removal process

* restaint (crush, or xylazine)
* tourniquet (stops lignocaine contam. velvet)
* local - wait 3 mins
* nick test
* removal
* appropriate handling and storage
* remove tourniquet +/- reversal

Xylazine dosage

* Standing: 0.2mg/kg iv or 0.4mg/kg IM
* Recumbent: 0.8 to 1.0 mg/kg IM
* Yohimbine reversal (0.2-0.25 ml/100kg)

Fentazin Dosage

always use for recumbant

* mix of azaperone (3.2mg/ml), Fentanyl (0.4mg/ml) and xylazine (58.3 mg/ml)
* 1ml/ 100kg IM
* Naloxone reversal
* Contran-H reversal (2.0-2.5 ml/100kg)

Xylaket dosage

mix of xylazine (150mg/ml) and ketamine (50mg/ml)

* 0.6-1ml/ 100kg IM

Xylazine Hypersensitivity

* breathing difficulty
* pulmonary oedema

Handling velvet

1. **Hygiene**
2. **Cold chain management** (-15 C with in 2hrs)
3. **Transport** (must arrive frozen)
4. **Traceability** (NVSB tags, documentation, signed statement)

Spiker removal

* max length= 110mm
* naturO rings (left on >72hr)

Bull breeding soundness exam

* Pre mating (AUG-OCT

\-2 m prior
* Presale (JUL-AUG)
* Post sale
* if problem with low scanning no.

Structure of Soundness exam

1. clinical history
2. physical exam
3. genital exam
4. ^^semen evaluation^^
5. ^^mating ability^^

4 Ts

* teeth
* toes
* testicles
* testosterone

Genital exam

* external lesions
* scrotal- size, tone, symmetry, lesions
* want mature size to be >38cm


* prepuce + penis

Bull penile defects

* fibropapilloma
* swelling, haematoma or adhesion
* ruptured corpus carvinosum
* broken penis
* cork screw

Semen evaluation

rectal probe → electrical impulse → erection + ejaculation

* closed loop so doesn’t reach rain

Artificial vagina

Mating ability tests

* ability to mount and mate
* penile abnormalities
* lag or back injuries

Soundness classifications

* sound
* temporarily unsound
* unsound

only relates to day of exam

Bull management

1. bull:cow ratio

\-1:25 to 1:40
2. rotation
3. regular checks
4. test for BVD

Ram breeding soundness exam

* Pre-sale (OCT-NOV)
* Pre-mate (JAN-FEB)
* problem

Ram soundness problems

* epididymitis
* congenital defects
* poor health
* rare= penis/prepuce abnormality
* pedigree- brucella ovis

Ram BCS

3\.5 - 4/5

Ram scrotal size

Young- hard to eval

Pre-sale: >28cm

Pre-Breeding > 34cm and firm

testosterone

* indicates sperm production
* Soft testicles:

\-out of season

\-over-heating

\-poor health
* temp. unsound take 6-8weeks for sperm maturation

Epididymitis

* inflammation
* DDX: brucella ovis, G- pleomorphs, vasectomy
* Disrupt tubules→ leak sperm into interstitum → foreign body reaction → chronic granulomatous inflam
* NB inflam of testies (orchitis) = rare
* → testicular atrophy

Brucella Ovis

* contagious via direct contact
* intro by new stock
* shed in semen, dec. fertility
* separate and do blood test if have epididymitis

G- pleomorphs

* in environment
* UGT entry via retrograde urethral infection
* acut epididymitis or orchitis → chronic lesions
* considered unsound → cull

Congenital ram soundness defects

* monorchid
* partial descent
* asymmetry
* segment aplasia
* micro-orchid

Scrotal mange

* chorioptes bovis (mite)
* hypersensitivity reaction
* inflam. + heat = red. sperm output
* 1/3 scrotum affected to dec. fertility
* treat with ectoparasiticide
* TEMPORARILY UNSOUND

Specific ram conditions

* damage/ obstruction urethral process
* Balano-Posthitis
* Hypopladia

Broken shoulder in heifer

* spont. humeral fracture
* clean break
* euthanise
* due to poor nutrition→ use Ca stores → brittle bones

Spont. Bone problems

* bones osteoporotic
* growth rest lines + lack collagen
* bone snaps

Why meet feed targets

* impact on heifer performance

\-milk production

\-getting pregnant

\-herd longevity
* problem time: AUTUMN and WINTER

Poor nutritional affects on puberty

* lighter less likely to cycle
* delayed conception
* longer PPAI
* lower milk yeild

Feed demands of a heifer

* 1.4-1.8 t pasture DM weaning to mating
* 2.8-3.4 t pasture DM weaning to calving

Steps if LW targets aren’t met

* preferentially feed light heifers
* check parasites and minerals

Targets

* by breed
* by mature weight
* BV
* all heifers need to reach target
* minimise excessive stock management

Animal stature measurements

* crown-rump length
* height
* girth

ideally tall with good girth

Challenges of feed targets

* est. yield of forage avaliable
* maintaining quality
* not restricting intake
* catching up when behind

Heifer Vaccinations

* BVD
* Lepto
* Clostridial

Parasite control in heifers

* drench for 6m (weaning to Feb)
* monitor weights and FEC
* drench when FEC >200

Grazing rules

* Graze 15cm+ down to 4-5cm
* use 21 day rotation in spring-summer
* longer rotation as growth slows in summer
* reg. 2wk grazing interval will kill chicory ad red clover in 1 season

Primary TE deficiency

soil and plant deficiency

* Co, Se, I, Cu

Secondary TE deficiency

Lack of absorption in animals

* Cu

Causes/ problems of TE deficiencies

* failing to supplement
* unnecessary supplementation
* toxicity and residues (Se and Cu)

Assessing TE status

* liver and blood TE conc
* Soil and plant testing
* Supplementation trials - time consuming and costly

Uses of Selenium

* protect cells against free radicals
* maintenance of resistance to infections

Clinical features of Se deficiency

* white muscle disease
* poor growth rates
* diarrhoea
* Early embryonic death (sheep)
* decreased milk production

Se deficiency diagnosis

* 3-4 samples
* whole blood - long-term intake
* serum - recent intake
* liver

looking at GPx in whole blood

Cobalt deficiency

* common in areas of volcanic soils
* seasonal variability
* gen. lower in spring and summer
* more common in sheep

Uses of Cobalt

* constituent of Vit B12
* part of co-enzyme for propionate→gluc

Clinical signs of Co Deficiency

* ill-thrift
* eye discharge
* washy wool
* anaemia

B12 vs Co supplementation

* Co converted to B12 in rumen by microbes → oral
* B12 → injection

Testing Co status

* test for B12
* stored in liver
* serum -10 samples (easiest)

Uses of Iodine

* synthesise thyroid hormones
* foetus dependant on dams daily intake

Whys Iodine important

* energy metabolism
* foetal brain, lung, heart, wool follicle development
* stimulate production of fetal lung surfactant

Iodine Deficiency

* Goitrogens interfere with uptake in thyroid gland

\-brassica crops

\- +/- some clover cultivars
* goats most at risk
* cattle rarely affected

Clinical signs of I deficiency

* Goitre
* increased perinatal mortality