Management and Breeding Soundness of Mature Bulls.

Mature bulls must be fed a balanced ration, vaccinated appropriately, and undergo a breeding soundness evaluation to ensure they meet what is required of a short, but intense breeding season. To be classified as a satisfactory potential breeder, minimum standards for physical soundness, scrotal circumference, sperm motility, and sperm morphology must be achieved using an accepted bull-breeding soundness evaluation format. Sperm production requires approximately 70 days.

A description of the findings from bull breeding soundness evaluations and their association with pregnancy outcomes in a study of western Canadian beef herds.

The primary objectives were to describe beef bulls considered for use and those reported as used in 205 beef herds in western Canada, and to determine whether factors typically assessed during breeding soundness evaluations were associated with reproductive success. More than 100 veterinary clinics reported 2990 breeding soundness evaluations for bulls considered for natural service in client's herds. Differences among clinics explained 5.

Congenital hypotrichosis and partial anodontia in a crossbred beef calf.

Clinical examination, skin biopsies, skull radiographs, and DNA analysis of a 2-day-old Red Angus-Charolais-Simmental cross bull calf confirmed the diagnosis of congenital hypotrichosis and anodontia defect (HAD), also called anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, which is a rare anomaly caused by a deletion in the bovine EDA gene on the X chromosome.

Welfare aspects of theriogenology: investigating alternatives to electroejaculation of bulls.

Evaluation of the breeding soundness of bulls is an important management tool. Electroejaculation has been a reliable method of obtaining a semen sample for the purpose of evaluating breeding soundness, but is considered by some to be inhumane on the grounds that it is painful. This paper provides a review of studies conducted to find ways to both measure, as well as lessen, pain associated with electroejaculation, and to explore alternatives to electroejaculation in bulls.

Use of internal artificial vaginas for breeding soundness evaluation in range bulls: an alternative for electroejaculation allowing observation of sex drive and mating ability.

The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of an inexpensive, reusable internal artificial vagina (IAV) developed for breeding soundness evaluation of range beef bulls. In addition, sexual behavior during semen collection by IAV was compared to behavior during pasture breeding. Breeding soundness exams (BSEs) were conducted on 165 bulls in two consecutive years (96 in Year 1 and 69 in Year 2).

Prevention of pregnancy in the dog with a combination of prostaglandin F2 alpha and bromocriptine.

Fifteen mated bitches were given prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) [250 micrograms/kg body weight] and bromocriptine (10 micrograms/kg BW) twice daily from days 6 to 10 of diestrus. Progesterone concentrations declined during treatment. None of the bitches whelped.