Dystocia
Abnormal or difficult birth
Red bag delivery
They other half of the placenta is delivered before the foal, foal is not getting oxygen
Fescue toxicosis
Plant that can contain a fungus that can produce alkaloid toxins when consumed and cause issues in parturition
Kentucky 31
type of fescue
Prolonged gestation
Enlarged foal
Thickened placenta
Agalactia
What issues can fescue cause in horses
Agalactia
No milk production
Summer slump
Problems in cattle caused by fescue, includes aborting fetuses and lack of appetite
Agalactia
Thickened placenta
Aborted fetuses
Poor appetite
Symptoms of summer slump
Move livestock to a fescue free lot (horses 60 days before foaling)
Test pasture
Dilute planting of red/white clovers
Consider endophyte free strains
Keep pastures short to avoid seed heads
How can you prevent fescue related diseases
Fertilization
The joining of the male and female gametes
Amnion
Amniotic sac (white bag)
True
Parturition is initiated by the fetus (T/F)
Relaxing of pelvic ligaments
Vulva swells
Waxing up
Signs of parturition
Diving position
What is the position for birth
Pasture management
What is the best way to limit fescue toxicosis
Nutrition
effective (blank) is essential to successful reproduction
Moderate
(blank) body condition is ideal for breeding in females
False
Environment does not affect reproduction (T/F)
Older
Anatomical defects in reproduction tracts are higher in (blank) animals
endocrine system
An imbalance in the (blank) can cause issues in reproduction
Prevent disease
What is on of the best ways to keep a herd healthy
Over-condition
Overweight
Increased dystocia due to increased fat
Not a huge issue, weight can be dropped easily
Flushing
Increasing the level of nutrition ~30 days before breeding
Increases rate of ovulation
What does flushing do
Under-conditioned
To thin
If life is threatened animals will not breed
Females must have a certain level of body fat to carry
2
How many estrous cycles to cattle have to get bred if we have a calf every 12 mo.
First-calf heifers
Cows that are giving their first calf (2 yrs old)
Lactation
Growth
Uterine involution
3 critical needs in nutrition for first-time heifers
Keep them separated from the main herd
How can you ensure first-calf heifers get the nutrient they need
Uterine involution
A time of recuperation after birth for the uterus
65%
What percent of expected mature weight at breeding do first-time heifers need to be
13-15 mo.
What age are first time heifers usually bred
Energy
Dietary component that is usually limiting
Protein
Second limiting factor in nutrition
Max use of sires
Greater selection
Use of deceased, incapacitated, or dangerous sires
Reduction of disease
Improved management
Advantages of AI
Increased labor, management and facilities
Can accentuate poor genetics
Disadvantages of AI
Use of hormones for synchronization of estrus cycles
Sex semen
Lactational anestrous cows
Future of AI
Artificial vagina
Used to collect semen (not from boars)
Requires female or dummy for mounting
Electroejaculator
Causes electrical stimulation to trigger ejaculation
Number of semen per ejaculate decreases
Why can semen not be collected to frequently
Volume
Sperm concentration
Motility of sperm
Abnormalities
What is evaluated in sperm
12-24 hours
What is the fertile life of ovum
24 hr
Fertile life of sperm
In the uterus
Where is semen deposited in cows and mares
Cervix
Where is semen deposited in sows
Superovulation
Hormone treatment to induce multiple ovulations
Multiple births
Increased number of offspring, not cost effective
Decreased gestation length and birth weights
Increased calf loss and placental retention
Downsides to multiple births
Increased reproduction
Decreased time for proof
Extended reproductive life of dams
Transport of exotic breeds
Embryo transfer advantages
Costly
Offspring are not inherently genetically better
Success rate is variable
Embryo transfer disadvantages
FSH
What is commonly used to induce superovulation in cattle
PMSG
Product that contains mostly FSH and little LH, obtained from pregnant mares
hCG
Contains mostly LH little FSH
Used with FSH or PMSG, obtained from pregnant women
Prostaglandins
Used to synchronize estrous cycles of donor and recipient cows
PGF2a
Prostaglandin that triggers regression of the CL
Healthy, cyclic animals of superior genetic makeup
Selection criteria for ET animals
Synchronization
Requirement for ET animals, their estrous cycles must be synced in order for embryo to stay viable
Freezing embryos
Future of ET, success rate is low; involves freezing for embryos for preservation
Cloning and micromanipulation of embryos
Very early embryos are split in half to form identical twins
Sexing embryos
Determining sex of embryos before copulation, would allow for greater selection