Top 10 Bovine Reproduction Part 1

What is the grading system for vaginal prolapse in bovines?

Grade I: Intermittent prolapse, especially when recumbent; Grade II: Continuous prolapse; Grade III: Continuous prolapse of vagina, bladder, and cervix; Grade IV: Grade II or III with tissue damage.

What are the risk factors for uterine prolapse in cattle?

Multiparous cattle, first-calf beef heifers, dystocia, retained membranes, hypocalcemia, and atony.

What are the common signs of postpartum uterine prolapse?

Cervix and inflamed mucosa are often visible, and the condition can occur within hours of parturition.

How is vaginal prolapse treated in cattle?

Treatment includes epidural anesthesia, lubricant replacement, and retention with a Buhner suture.

What prognosis is associated with uterine prolapse in mature heifers?

The prognosis is good to excellent for mature heifers, but poor for first-calf heifers.

What are the main clinical signs of mastitis in cows?

Systemic illness (fever, anorexia, tachycardia, diarrhea, depression) and changes in milk (flaky, fibrinous, or blood-tinged).

Which bacteria are commonly associated with mastitis?

Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, and various coliforms.

What diagnostic tests are used to detect mastitis?

Cytology, culture, California Mastitis Test (CMT), and somatic cell counts (SCCs).

What are the goals of treatment for retained fetal membranes?

Do not pull the membranes; if systemic illness is not proven, systemic antibiotics will not help, and cows will usually expel membranes on their own in 3-11 days.

What is the primary cause of endometritis in cattle?

Endometritis is often caused by nonspecific infections, most commonly by Trueperella pyogenes and anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria.

How can cystic ovarian disease be diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made via rectal examination and ultrasonography to differentiate between follicular cysts and luteal cysts.

What are the treatment options for follicular cysts in cattle?

Treatment includes GnRH to encourage ovulation; luteal cysts are treated with PGF2α to encourage luteal lysis.

What are some contributing factors to the development of retained fetal membranes?

Dystocia, abortion, twin pregnancies, hypocalcemia, increased environmental temperatures, and older age of cows.

What caution should be exercised in cases of uterine prolapse?

Avoid Caslick sutures and other vulvar closures, as the prolapse begins at the apex of the uterine horn.

What is the predisposition of cows for endometritis associated with calving?

Endometritis is the second biggest reproductive problem after failure to detect estrus and occurs from 3 days to 2 weeks postpartum.

Which cows are affected by vaginal prolapse?

Mature cows with enlarged abdomen (fat, fetus, GI) usually in last trimester

Vaginal prolapse grading system?

1. Grade I - intermittent prolapse, esp. when recumbent

2. Grade II - continuous prolapse

3. Grade III - continuous prolapse of vagina, bladder and cervix

4. Grade IV -

When does uterine prolapse occur?

Within hours of parturition

What are the risk factors for uterine prolapse?

1. Multiparous cattle

2. First calf beef heifers

3. Dystocia

4. Retained membranes

5. Hypocalcemia

6. Atony

Vaginal prolapse Dx?

May see cervix and inflamed mucosa

Uterine prolapse Dx?

See cotyledons ± retained placenta

Vaginal prolapse Tx?

1. Epidural

2. Lubricant

3. Replacement

4. Retain with Buhner suture (deeply buried circumferential suture placed around the vestibule to provide support at the point at the initial eversion of the vaginal wall)

5. Salvage procedure is an option

Uterine prolapse Tx?

1. Address shock

2. Epidural

3. Cleanse uterus

4. Glycerol

5. Lubricant

6. Replacement:

   • If recumbent put cow in sternal recumbency with hindquarters elevated and pelvic limbs extended backwards (like a frog)

   • Helps of you push uterus downhill

7. Repair by pushing uterine tip up and in, working between bouts of straining

8. Once uterus is in a normal position:

   • Infuse warm, sterile saline solution to ensure complete replacement of the tip of the uterine horn without trauma

   • Oxytocin plus IV Ca is indicated in most cases to increase uterine tone

9. Caslick sutures and other vulvar closures are NOT useful because uterine prolapse begins at apex of uterine horn, NOT at vulva.

Vaginal prolapse cause?

May be genetic component.

Uterine prolapse prognosis?

Good to excellent for mature heifers, poor for first calf heifers. Recurrence is rare if properly replaced

Causes of sublinical mastitis?

Staph. aureus, coagulase - staphylococcus, streptococcus agalactiae

Acute CS of mastitis?

Fever, anorexia, tachycardia, diarrhea, depression, toxemia, serous to serosanguinous milk. Strep. dysgalactiae and coliforms

CS of chronic mastitis?

Hot, firm udder, erythema, edema, pain, abnormal milk with flakers, fibrin, or blood

Causes of mastitis?

1. Staph aureus (contagious), CNS (opportunistic)

2. Strep. agalactiae (cont.)

3. Strep. uberis (environmental, ± contag.)

4. Strep. dysgalactiae (env. ± cont.)

5. Trueperella pyogenes (cont.)

6. Mycoplasma spp. or M. bovis (cont.)

7. Listeria monocytogenes

8. Coliforms (E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Serratia, Citrobacter) (env.)

Mastitis Dx?

1. PEx

2. Cytology

3. Culture (normal milk is sterile)

4. CMT

5. Regulatory authorities grade milk by SCC

What does CMT test for and how do we perform it?

1. Measures somatic cell count SCCs on individual or bulk milk

2. Uses detergent to lyse SCCs

3. Add equal volumes or milk and reagent and watch the amount of gel formed

4. CMT is used to detect or rule out subclinical mastitis

How is milk graded?

1. SCCs are normally 75% WBCs and 25% epithelial cells

2. WBCs increase with mastitis

3. Normal cow has less than 100-200k SCC/ml

4. Normal parameters for bulk milk:

   a. <750k SCC/ml

   b. <10 coliforms/ml

   c. <100k bacteria/ml

Mastitis Tx?

1. ABx systemic or inflammatory infusions

2. Freq. milking

3. NSAIDs

4. Dry cow tx

5. ± Oxytocin to increase udder drainage

Mastitis prevention?

1. Decrease stress and environmental contamination

2. Post milking teat dipping/spraying

3. Pre milking teat dripping/spraying

4. Dry cow Tx - infuse all quarters at drying off

5. Culling/segregation

6. Proper milking machine management and testing

7. Vax: adjuncts only (for S. aureus, some streptococcus spp.)

Predominant Ig in milk, most important defense of the mammary gland?

IgG1. Nw

What is summer mastitis associated with?

Trueperella pyogenes mastitis may be associated with sheep head fly

What causes milk drop syndrome?

Or flabby bag mastitis is caused by Leptospira, name because of the rapid drop in milk production which results in a flaccid udder

Cause of ulcerative mammilitis?

BHV II and IV

After how many hours are fetal membranes retained?

IF they havent been expelled after more than 12h. More often in dairy than beef cows

CS of retained fetal membranes?

Protruding membranes are hanging from vulva, malodorous discharge, delated return to estrus., ± toxemia

Risk factors for retained placenta?

1. Dystocia

2. Abortion

3. Twins

4. Hypocalcemia

5. Increased environmental temperatures

6. Older cows

7. Premature birth

8. Induction of parturition

9. Placentitis

10. Hx of retained fetal membranes

What do retained placentas increase the risk of?

1. Mastitis

2. Metritis

3. Ketosis

4. Displaced abomasum

5. Tetanus

Retained placentas Dx?

Membranes protruding from vulva, no Hx of expelling membranes.

Retained placentas Tx?

1. DO NOT PU::

2. Trim whats visible

3. They expel it in 3-11 days regardless of Tx

4. Systemic ABx if there is syst. illness

5. NOT proven to help: intrauterine ABx, PGF2alpha, oxytocin, estradiol, Ca

6. Vit E/selenium may help to prevent in deficient herds

7. Good dry cow management is essential to prevent retained fetal membranes

When does endometritis occur?

2-3 wks pp. Second biggest problem after failure to detect estrus.

Endometritis CS?

1. Decreased conception rates

2. Shortened estrous cycle

3. Purulent vaginal discharge

4. May be subclinical

Factors that contribute to endometritis?

1. Over-conditioning

2. Unclean calving environment

3. Assisted calving, dystocia

4. Retained placenta

5. Unnecessary post partum infusions

6. Inaccurate heat detection (resulting in too much AI)

7. Presence of trueperella pyogenes or ureaplasma

Endometritis etiologies?

1. Usually nonspec. infection

2. Most often T. pyogenes (sometimes in association with F. necrophorum)

3. Other G- anaerobes

4. Campylobacter fetus venerealis or C. fetus fetus

5. ± B. abortus

6. ± Trutrichomonas foetus

7. Leptospirosis

Endometritis Dx?

1. Rectal exam: large, fluid filled uterus

2. Endometrial cytology and culture

3. ± US

Endometritis Tx?

1. PGF2 alpha to lyse persistent corpus luteum

2. If septic: systemic ABx, NSAIDs, IV fluids

3. DO NOT use uterine infusions or lavage

4. Good dry cow management is essential to prevent

Folicullar cysts CS?

1. Nymphomania

2. Short interestrus intervals

3. Extended calving interval

4. Increased heat behavior

5. Mucoid vaginal discharge

Luteal cysts CS?

Anestrous behavior

Follicular cysts Dx?

• Rectal exam (cannot distinguish between follicular and luteal)

• US

  • Thin walled, <3mm

  • More than 25mm in diameter

  • Often multiple cysts

  • Absence of c. luteum

• Low serum progesterone conc.

• Persists more than 10d

Luteal cysts Dx?

• Rectal exam (cannot distinguish between follicular and luteal)

• US

  • Thick walled, more than 3mm

  • More than 25mm in diameter

  • Trabeculae

  • Usually a single cyst

• High serum prog. conc. (luteal cysts secrete progesterone)

Follicular cysts Tx?

1. GnRH; encourages ovulation

2. Luteinizing hormone - type Tx

3. Manual rupture per rectum may cause trauma and hemorrhage

Luteal cysts Tx?

1. PGF2 alpha, encourages luteal lysis

2. Tx will allow estrus in 3-5 days

3. DO NOT rupture

Why do follicular cysts cause nymphomania?

Because of increased estradiol and decreased progesterone