Term 5-RPM Week 1

What is a is soft, round and fluid filled, and it is present when the cow is in heat?

Graafian follicle

What are firm structures, usually with a crown projecting beyond the surface of the ovary?

Corpus luteum

What structure found on an ovary is greater than 25 mm in diameter in a cow?

Follicular cyst

On any given day, approximately how many cows in a group of 100 normal cycling non-pregnant cows are in estrus?

5

Estrous cycle in bovine ~21 days

Proestrus = ~3 d, therefore ±15 cows (3/21x100) are likely to be in proestrus at any given point

Estrus = ~1day, therefore ±5 cows (1/21x100) are likely to be in estrus at any given point

Metestrus = ~4d, therefore ±20 cows are likely to be in metestrus at any given point

Diestrus = ~12 d, therefore ±60 cows are likely to be in diestrus at any given point

Why is it important to examine vulvar discharge in domestic animals

Normal vs abnormal and staging

What is a clear mucous vuvlar discharge from a cow indicative of

Estrus or partition (mucous plug in cervix)

What is purulent vuvlar discharge from a cow indicative of

Infection (metritis because cervix open)

What is the difference in the presentation of pyometra and metritis in cattle

In a pyo in a cow the cervix is closed in metritis the cervix is open

What is a physiologic and pathologic cause for bloody vulvar discharge in cattle

Physio- Metestral breeding (indicates ovulation NOT pregnancy)

Path- fetal death, trauma

What is the differences in breeding management between dairy and beef

Dairy- heat detection followed by timed AI

Beef- natural bulls running with cows for 2-3 months (don’t usually know how far along cows are into pregnancy)

What is the goal for breeding with cattle

1 calf/cow/year

How long is the bovine gestation period

280 days on average

What is the voluntary waiting period in cattle breeding

The 40-60 days you have to get a cow pregnant in the year (you will only have a few cycles)

What is the difference between estrous and estrus

Estrous refers to whole cycle while estrus is the period of sexual receptivity

How long is the estrus cycle in cattle

21 days

What is the primary (most reliable) sign of estrus

Standing to be mounted

What are secondary signs of estrus (that may be seen before, during or after estrus)

Attempting to mount other cows, clear mucous discharge, vulvar swelling and hyperemia, sniffing the vulva of other cows, bellowing, restlessness and trailing other cows, resting chin on other cows

What are some different types of estrus detection aids

Kamar heatmount detector, estrotect heat detector, tailhead markings/tailhead paint, activity meters such as pedometers or neck mounted collars

What are some transrectal exam and lab findings of a cow in estrus

Uterus edematous and turgid, uterine horns tightly coiled, large follicles present on ovary, CL absent, low progesterone

What are some transrectal exam and lab findings of a cow in diestrus

Uterus relaxed, uterine horns relatively less coiled, CL present on ovary, large follicles may or may not be present, high progesterone

What makes a uterus turgid

Estrogen

What makes a uterus relaxed

Progesterone

What are some US findings of a cow in estrus

May see small amounts of anechoic intraluminal fluid and follicles (anechoic) on the ovaries

What are some US findings of a cow in diestrus

CL looks hypoechoic on the ovaries and may have a central anechoic fluid filled cavity

Which method of estrus detection is based on secondary sign of estrus

Pedometer or head mounted movement detector

What is the function of PGF2alpha in estrus synch programs

Luteolysis

What conditions must be present for PGF2alpha injections to work

They must have a CL that is more than 4 days old and the CL must be caught before it starts regressing

Why is a 2 shot PGF2alpha program better than a 1 shot

Cow that didn’t repond to the 1st injection with have a responsive CL for the next injection and cow that respond the first time will also have a responsive CL and therefore both groups will respond at the second injection

What are some PGF2alpha products available

Dinoprost, cloprostenol, luprostenol (higher conc)

What is the most likelu outcome if you give an anovular cow and injection of PGF2alpha

She will not respond to injection

How does progestagen based programs work

It mimics the luteal phase causing negative feedback on LH therefore inhibiting ovulation and when this is removed the cow will come into estrus

What is melengestrol acetate (MGA)

The only approved FDA estrus suppression in heifers which is used as premix added to feed for hiefers in feedlot or can be used as a combo with PGF2alpha to synch estrus

What is the most common synch protocol used in dairy cattle

OvSynch (3 injections and 4 handling events)

GnRH, PGF2alpha, GnRH, fixed time AI

What is the most common synch protocol used in beef cattle

SelectSynch

GnRH + PGF2alpha given 7 days apart

2 injections and 2 handling events (natural service)

What is like OvSynch but is less handling events and is therefore better when there is lower staff

Co-synch (3 injections and 3 handling events/inject and AI in same day)

What are estrus synch methods for small ruminants

Ram/buck effect

PGF2a and progestins

What is the ram effect/buck effect

Ewe/does isolated from sight, sound, smell or rams/bucks for 4-6 weeks

Teaser vasectomy males used first to induce cyclicity

Then exposure to fertile males

WHat is progestins used for in small ruminant

controlled internal drug release of progesterone and when removed will cause them to go in estrus 48 hours after

Why is estrus harder to detect in small ruminants

The signs are more subtle and difficult to detect (slight swollen and congestion vulva and restlessness)

Can use a teaser with marker harness to identify ewes in estrus

How do you detect estrus in pigs

Back pressure test or riding test, immobile stance with erect ears and lordosis, seeks out boar and pink swollen vulva

What is the boar effect in pigs

Phermones (5-a-androstenone produces from testosterone in submax salivary gland), fence line teasing with nose to nose contact a min of 10 mins daily for 2 weeks

What is the difference between the primer effect and signaler effect in relation to the boar effect in pigs

Primer: stim onset puberty in prepubertal gilts

Signaler: facilitae detection estrus in gilts and sows

What is the efficacy of PGF2a estrus synch in pigs

NOT effective because pig CL are refractory to the effect of PGF2a until day 11/12

What is the efficacy of progestagens in estrus synch with pigs

Good, oral progestogen (regumate) in feed and when removed with usually cycle 4-9 days after stopping treatment

What are components of a mare BSE

Identification and signalment

History

General CE

Specific repro exam

What general history do you want to gather for a mare BSE

Career/main purpose

Dz history

Medications (estrus suppressing drugs in performance horses)

Management

What is a maiden mare

A mare that has never foaled before

Generally have a good chance of conception EXEPCT if older than 10 yrs

What is a barren mare

A mare that hasn’t concived this bredding season or in past breeding seasons

Reduced fertility (deterioration of endometrial quality with increased numbers of years barren)

What is part of a specific repro exam for mares

Perineal conformation

Transrectal palpation and US

Eval of vestibulo-vaginal junction (windsucker test)

Vaginal examination (vaginoscopy and manual exam)

Endometrial cytology and bacterial culture

Endometrial biopsy

Special tests which are not routine (hysteroscopy, hormone profiles, karyotyping)

What is normal perineal conformation for a horse

Vulva should be upright and have good apposition of vulvar lips and have more than 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the vulvar length below the base of the pelvis

What does gaping of the vulvar lips and horizontal tipping of the vulva predispose mares to

Pneumo-vagina and fecal contamination leading to infertility

What is important to remember with preforming a caslick surgery

RECORD! so they know to cut it before parturition

What can cause an enlarge clitoris in mares

Intersex (genetic) or androgens (acquired)… look at the age

Why can you see urine scalding in a mare that in heat

They will preform pulsatile urination and since their pee has lots of mucous in it there can be scalding left behind

After evaluation of the perineal conformation what is the most logical next step in the BSE

Transrectal palpation and US

What is a good landmark for transrectal palpation in mares

The leading edge of the uterus (uterine bifurcation) since the cervix is pretty muscular it is not a good landmark in horses like it is in cows

What is the texture and tone of the cervix in estrus

High estrogens causes soft and low tone making it difficult to palpate

What is the texture and tone of the cervix in diestrus

High progesterone causes a firm high tone and a tightly closed cervix

What is the texture and tone of the uterus in estrus

Decreased tone and more turgid and doughy

What is the texture and tone of the uterus in diestrus

Increased tone and no edema

Why should you evaluate the broad ligament postpartum in transrectal palpation

Because rupture of the uterine artery can happen and you can feel a hematoma in the broad ligament

How can you palpate the ovaries in transrectal palpation of a mare

At 10 and 2 o clock just cranial to iliac arches close to the body wall

What can inability to palpate the ovulation fossa be due to in mares

Granulosa cell tumor

What can too much edema (grade 3) or edema during diestrus be a sign of in mares

Endometritis

What can free intraluminal fluid mean in the uterus of mares

Pregnancy, endometritis (if no preg), and pyo (but uncommon)

What do endometrial cysts look like in mares

Single or multiple that range in size and irregular in shape

How does a follicle vs corpus hemorrhagicum vs corpus luteum look like on US

Follicle anechoic, CH hypo and CL hypo with some hyper

Transrectal exam of a mare indicates that the uterus is turgid with a grade 2 edema and no intraluminal free fluid. The right ovary has a 40 mm follicle and the left ovary has multiple small follicles. What is the best interpretation of these findings?

The mare is in estrus

What is the windsucker test? How do you preform it? What is a positive result?

An evaluation of the vestibulo-vaginal junction in equine

Gently pull vulva lips apart to see the pink curtain

Mare with incomplete vestibulo-vaginal junction sounds of air rushing in once you part the vulvar lips

What is most important before you preform your vaginal examination

Clean the perineum first (oreo cookies)

What do you use to examine the vagina and what can you examine

Vaginoscopy (speculum)

External os of cervix, vagina, vestibulo-vaginal junction and vestibule

How does the cervix appear on vaginal examination in a horse in estrus

On floor of vagina, pink and moist

How does the cervix appear on vaginal examination in a horse in diestrus

dorsal/cranial, pale and dry

When is it best to preform digital exam of the cervix

During diestrus because it should be tightly closed and easier to palpate in horses

What is swab 1 and 2 of the endometrium in horses and what do they test for

Swab 1- for C&S (sent if evidence of inflam on swab 2)

Swab 2- smear for cytology (to identify cell types and inflammation)

What classifies endometritis when you are interpreting endometrial cytology

Greater than 1 neutrophil/hpf

What does a positive cytology (>1 neutrophil/hpf) and negative culture (no bacterial growth) mean in terms of endometritis

Non-infectious (from urine pooling or other reasons)

In which mares do you preform a endometrial biopsy and where do you take the sample from?

Barren

Base of uterine horn

What are some special blood tests that can be done if needed in mares

Hormone profiles (GCT panel)

Karyotyping (for intersex if enlarged clit)

Infectious dz (EIA)

When would you use hysteroscopy in horses

Intraluminal foreign bodies (swab tip, glass marbles) or ablation of endometrial cysts

What is the normal orientation of testes within the scrotum of a bull

Vertical

How many accessory sex glands do bovine have

4 (ampulla, prostate, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral gland)

What is the average age of onset of puberty in cows and what defines male puberty in cows

12 months

The first time a bull produces an ejaculate with at least 50 million spermatozoa/mL with at least 10% progressive motility

What is the average duration of spermatogenesis in cattle and what is this importance

60 days (wait 2 months to test again to give the bull a second chance)

What does the routine bull BSE NOT evaluate

Libido and serving capacity

What are component of a bull BSE

Identification, history, general PE, repro PE, semen eval (and special tests for trich and vibrio or other semen eval tests)

What would be the best sample to collect if we need to test a bull for trich and vibrio

Preputial scraping (they live in the preputial crips and need to be scraped off)

What is a desirable penile sheath in cattle

Held close to body to avoid trauma (ideally above an imaginary line drawn from carpus to hock)

Which animals have which type of penis

Fibroelastic: ruminants and pigs

Musculocavernous: horses and dogs

Why is a bigger SC better

More sperm and produce heifer calves that attain puberty earlier

How should healthy testes appear in bulls

Symmetric, firm and elastic, freely mobile

What are clinical signs of seminal vesiculitis in bulls

Vocalization when you palpate it (if acute)

Fibrotic and small (if chronic)

What are some methods of semen collection in bulls

Artificial vagina

Electroejaculation

How should healthy semen appear in bulls

Milky and creamy with a slight chlorine odor and pH of 6.2-6.8

What can cause a lower pH in semen of bulls

If the sample is standing for a while (anaerobic metabolism) or infection

What is important with sample handling in semen evaluation

Must keep it in an incubator to keep it warm

What is the minimum recommended threshold for individual sperm motility in bulls

30%

What is the minimum recommended threshold for sperm morphology in bulls

70%

What causes vibrio in bulls

Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis

What causes trich in bulls

Tritrichomonas fetus (protozoa)