Ruminant reproductive physiology: Part 2

Early detection, accuracy, rapid results, inexpensive

Criteria for pregnancy test

Behavioral assessment, rectal palpation, ultrasound, biochemical tests

Pregnancy tests available for bovids

21

How many days post-breeding can you detect pregnancy through behavioral assessment?

Low

Cost and time associated with estrus (behavioral) pregnancy detection

50-70%; highly variable; depends on skill

Percentage of accuracy for estrus (behavioral) pregnancy detection

Estrus (behavioral) detection

Which pregnancy test method involves augmentation with activity monitors and tail patches?

Amnionic vesicle, membrane slip, fetus, placentome

Structures that can be palpated to detect fetus/placenta in traditional rectal palpation

35 (30-32 with lots of experience)

At what day of gestation can a pregnancy be detected through traditional palpation?

Over 95% with experience

Accuracy of traditional palpation

Transrectally, transabdominally

Ultrasound is done ___ in cows and ___ in small ruminants.

30 (27 is possible)

At what day of gestation can a pregnancy be detected via ultrasound?

Over 95%

Accuracy of ultrasound

Ultrasound

Which pregnancy test method is best for assessing ovarian structures?

Binucleate cells in placenta

Source of biochemical testing (PAGs)

Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins

What does PAGs stand for?

Attachment, 90 days post-partum

PAGs (pregnancy-associated glycoproteins) are present in the maternal blood from ___ to ___.

30 days

At what point can pregnancy be detected via PAG testing?

95%

Approximate accuracy of PAG testing

$4

Approximate cost of PAG testing

Viability of fetus

What does PAG testing not assess?

Transabdominal ultrasound, PAG testing

Methods of detecting pregnancy in small ruminants

Transabdominal ultrasound

Which method of detecting pregnancy in small ruminants?:

1. Caudal abdomen at the fold of the flank

2. Alcohol for content

3. Mineral oil works better but not compatible with some probes

4. Push hard

5. Aim for the pelvis– try to find the bladder

6. Can determine number of fetuses

Thermoregulation of sperm

What can be affected if a bull is overweight?

Estrus detection (eyes, ears, nose), transportation (4 good legs), testicles, accessory sex glands, functional penis, moderate BCS

What to evaluate during physical exam on a bull

Concentration

What can you ignore when evaluating semen?

Motility, morphology

What to evaluate in semen

Flow cytometry

What type of advanced analysis does this describe?:

1. Sperm viability

   1. Propridium iodide

   2. SYBR-14

2. Acrosome integrity

   1. PNA-FITC

3. Chromatin integrity

   1. Acridine orange

4. Sperm sorting