A breeding soundness examination is a vital part of any breeding program. These examinations are not performed as frequently in the bitch as they are in the male dog. They allow clinicians to identify any problems at an early stage in a bitch's breeding career and to screen for any genetic abnormalities. A thorough physical examination and accurate history guide the choice of which diagnostics tests are most useful. Ultrasound, culture, cytology, and biopsies (surgical and nonsurgical techniques) are discussed. Knowing which stage of the cycle to perform these diagnostics yields the most information and increases the chance of a successful outcome.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2018.02.004 | DOI Listing |
BMC Genomics
January 2025
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 270 S. Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
Background: The profitability of the beef industry is directly influenced by the fertility rate and reproductive performance of both males and females, which can be improved through selective breeding. When performing genomic analyses, genetic markers located on the X chromosome have been commonly ignored despite the X chromosome being one of the largest chromosomes in the cattle genome. Therefore, the primary objectives of this study were to: (1) estimate variance components and genetic parameters for eighteen male and five female fertility and reproductive traits in Nellore cattle including X chromosome markers in the analyses; and (2) perform genome-wide association studies and functional genomic analyses to better understand the genetic background of male and female fertility and reproductive performance traits in Nellore cattle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Dairy Sci
January 2025
Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health, Level 2, 3 Te Kehu Way, Mount Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand.
The aims of this study were to assess the effect of meloxicam at the time of lameness treatment for hoof-horn (HH) lesions in dairy cattle on 1) time to lameness soundness post trimming and block application and 2) reproductive success Five seasonal-calving pasture-based dairy farms located in the Waikato region of New Zealand were enrolled into a randomized clinical interventional trial. Farmers were tasked with identifying lame animals over a period of approximately -4 to 6 weeks relative to the herd start of mating (HSM), with lameness subsequently confirmed with lameness score (LS) by trained technicians (0-3 scale, where ≥2 are considered lame). Animals with a LS ≥2 were examined by a veterinarian who then enrolled animals if they presented lame with HH (white-line or sole) lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Anim Sci
January 2025
USDA-Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), Clay Center, NE, USA.
Sow lameness results in premature culling, causing economic loss and well-being issues. A study, utilizing a pressure-sensing mat (GAIT4) and video monitoring system (NUtrack), was conducted to identify objective measurements on gilts that are predictive of future lameness. Gilts (N = 3656) were categorized to describe their lifetime soundness: SOUND, retained for breeding with no detected mobility issues; LAME_SOW, retained for breeding and detected lame as a sow; CULL_STR, not retained due to poor leg structure; LAME_GILT, not retained due to visible signs of lameness; and CULL, not retained due to reasons other than leg structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnim Reprod Sci
December 2024
University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada. Electronic address:
This review focuses on bull breeding behaviors and management strategies to improve reproductive efficiency. Breeding soundness evaluations are utilized to classify a bull's physical ability and sperm quality, yet roughly 20 % of bulls fail to meet the minimum criteria. Furthermore, despite achieving the minimum criteria, few bulls in multi-sire breeding groups sire the majority of calves, indicating a need for better understanding of bull behavior that impact siring capacity, and thus, a bull's reproductive efficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: Male fertility is essential to bovine reproduction, particularly when bulls are used for artificial insemination or single-sire breeding. Bull breeding and soundness examinations (BBSE) are routinely undertaken to identify potentially unfit bulls for breeding. Multiple criteria, including physical examination and determination of testicular and semen parameters, characterize BBSE.
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