ANIMAL REPRODUCTION.

Reproductio
n in Animals
Male reproductive
organs
The Bull must mount and
serve
Scrotum
Sigmoid flexure
 What is the function of the
Male?
• Produce large numbers of live
sex cells (spermatozoa)
• Contribute 1/2
chromosomes
 What are the Male Reproductive Organs?
• Testicles - produce spermatozoa & male hormone
Testosterone
• Scrotom - sack which carries testicles
– functions as a heat regulator
• Monorchid - one fertile testicle
• Cryptorchid - both testes remain in body cavity
(sterile)
• Castration - removal of testicles
– lack sex drive
– gain weight quicker
What are the Male Reproductive Organs?

• Epididymis - tube connects to testes

• storage of spermatozoa (200 billion at a
time)
• spermatozoa mature as they
migrate through
• Vas Deferens - tube connects to epididymis
– if removed, can't reproduce = vasectomy
 What are the Male Reproductive
Organs?

• Urethra - begins at bladder and

continues through penis
• Sigmoid Flexure - "S" shape in
urethra allows for extension of penis
outside of body for reproduction
 Accessory Sex Glands
• Prostate
• Two seminal vesicles
• Two cowpers glands
 What is the function of the
Accessory Sex Glands?
• Provide medium for
transporting sperm.
• Adds volume.
• Provides nutrients.
• Cleans & flushes urinary
tract.
 BULL
• Reproductive Genitalia :
• Scrotum.
• Testes.
• Epididymis.
• Vas Deferens.
• Seminal Glands.
• Prostate Gland.
• Corpulatory Organ.
 Reproductive Organs in the Male

Cowpers Gland

Rectum
Prostate Crura (pl)
Seminal Vesicles
Ampulla
Bladder Retractor Penis
Sigmoid Muscle
Flexure
Retractor Vas Deferens
Penis Muscle

Caput Epididymis
Glans Scrotum
Penis Testis Cauda Epididymis
Boar Reproductive
Tract
Bull Reproductive Tract
Ram Reproductive Tract
 Testes
• Located vertically within scrotum
• Oval in shape with 3 dimensions :
Length, Breadth and Thickness
• Their size correlated with age, body weight ,
sperm production, hormones released, epididymal
size and functions of other genitalia
Female reproductive
organs
Ovaries
Cervix
What is the function of the
female?
• Contribute 1/2 chromosomes
• Care for young in uterus and
after birth until weaning.
 What are the Female
Reproductive Organs?
• Vulva - exterior portion of
reproductive tract.
• provides visual signs of heat.
• Vagina - between vulva & cervix
–Semen is deposited here.
 What are the Female Reproductive
Organs?
• Cervix - "Mouth of the womb"
• Opening into uterus.
• At birth cervix stretches to allow
baby to pass (most painful part).
• During pregnancy cervix becomes
blocked with a mucous plug to
prevent infection,
Female Reproductive
Organs
 What are the Female
Reproductive Organs?
• Uterine Horns - two branches of
uterus.
• Fallopian Tube - uterine horn
becomes a small tube.
–Lined with cilia which aid in egg
migration.
 Ovaries
• Located at end of fallopian tubes.
• Possesses large number of eggs in all stages
of development.
• This is all the eggs she will ever have, unlike
the male.
• Very few eggs reach maturity.
• If not fertilized, the egg is reabsorbed by
the body.
Female Tract
Cow Reproductive Tract
 The Oestrous Cycle
• Oestrus is the period of time the
female will stand to be ridden by
another cow
• The estrus cycle length varies from
18-24 days, with the average about
21 days.
Phases of the Estrus Cycle
• Oestrus
• Met estrus
• Diestrus
• Proestrus
 Oestrus (Heat)

•Estrus is the period •Average length of

of time the female Estrus is 12 to 18
will stand to be hours.
ridden by another •Ovulation normally
cow or is receptive to
be mated by the bull. occurs 10 to 12
hours after the end
of estrus.
Ovulation occures 10 12 hours after the end of estrus

Estrus Metestrus
 Metestrus
• Metestrus is the • Ovulated eggs are
period immediately picked up by the
following oestrus oviducts and
and ovulation. transported to the
uterine horns.
• Characterized by
• 2-4 days after Estrus
the formation of lasting for 3 days.
the Corpus
Luteum.
 Diestrus
• Diestrus is the most • The corpus luteum
lengthy period of the continues throughout
estrous cycle which is the pregnancy.
period of corpus luteum • If pregnancy does not
function. occur the corpus luteum
• Days 5 to 16-17 will degenerate after
• The corpus luteum approximately 15 days.
produces large amount of
Progesterone that will
affect mammary
development and uterine
growth.
 Proestrus

•Proestrus is the period just prior Days 17 to 21

to oestrus (heat).Regression of •Cows may show increased
CL. excitability but not to the
•Oestrogens secreted by the stage of actual mating.
ovaries (Rapid Follicle Growth)
which stimulate blood supply to
the genital tract causing swelling
and reddening of the vulva.
Detection of Estrus (Heat) in
Dairy Cattle

• Primary Sign of
Estrus

–Stands
immobile when
mounted.
Female stands still when
mounted
 Secondary Signs of Estrus
• Behavioral – Sniffing
–Bellowing – Flehmen posture
(inverted nostrils)
–Increased Activity – Circling
–Walking the fence – Chin-resting
line – Mounting
–Charging
–Butting (hit
something with the
head)
Flehmen Posture
 Secondary Signs of Oestrus
• Physical Signs of – Red vulva
Oestrus – Swollen vulva
– Manure on flanks – Clear mucus
– Roughened tail head discharge from vulva
– Loss of hair on tail
head
– Abrasions on tail
head
Mucus discharge, clear and thin
Factors Influencing the
Detection of Oestrus
 Identification
• Accurate and complete record
keeping is essential.
–Proper identification is necessary.
• Legible ear tags
• Freeze brands
–Sufficient outdoor lighting.
Time of Visual Observation
• Detection Aids
– Radio Transmitters
• Leg chips, ear, hock
• Activity levels, held up
– Chalk mark on tail head
• Color usage
– Gomer bulls wearing
chin-ball markers
– Tail head patches
 Chin-Ball Marker and Pedometer
Cow pedometer. Recorded their
movements Chin ball marker
Tail head patches
Chalk mark on tail head
 Synchronisation of
oestrus
 Synchronisation of oestrus is the treatment of a
large number of animals with hormones to
change their oestrous cycle so that they all
reach oestrus within a period of four to five days.
 Synchronisation of oestrus is especially valuable
for artificial insemination of animals on
pastures and in extensive conditions.
 Methods to synchronise oestrus and
mating
A synchronisation system generally impacts animals in
the following ways:
• It can keep animals out of heat and extend the oestrus cycle
• It can bring females into heat and shorten the oestrus cycle
• It can cause ovulation or start development of a new
follicular wave where a number of follicles mature at the
same time.
Methods include:
• Implanting animals with intra-vaginal implants
• Giving animals either a single injection or multiple injections
• A combination of injections and implants.
 The hormones used to
• synchronise
Prostaglandin injection is administered after day 7 of
the oestrus.
• Prostaglandin ends the normal oestrus cycle if the
female has not become pregnant.
• Synthetic progesterone (progestin) and Estradiol
(oestrogen compound) can be used for beef and dairy
cows but is not approved for lactating dairy cows.
Synthetic progesterone is administered 12 days before
insemination as an ear implant under the skin on the
back of the ear.
• MGA is a progestin that can be mixed with feed. It is
supplied to the females for 14 days at a dosage of 0,5
mg per animal per day.
 Advantages
• In extensive farming environments the whole flock or herd can be brought
in for insemination at one time.
• Lowers insemination costs if expensive semen is used for insemination.
• Simplifies management, as jobs such as castration and dehorning can be
done simultaneously
• Can be used to induce puberty animals and start reproduction at an earlier
age
• Transplantation of embryos is easier.
• Breeding can be scheduled
• Genetics are improved
• Shortening the breeding seasons.
• Cows in anoestrus can be induced to cycle.
Disadvantages of Synchronisation
• The process can be laborious and time-consuming.
• If the animals that are due for artificial insemination come in
heat over a period of time.
• The synchronisation drugs can be very expensive.
• Veterinary costs can be very expensive.
• If heat detection is not done accurately, animals may be missed
or inseminated at the wrong time.
• Conditions such as poor nutrition, poor body condition and poor
health will affect oestrus synchronisation negatively.
• Heat detection involves high labour costs and good facilities and
is time-intensive.
• Synchronisation involves skilled management and high
technology.
 Oestrous Cycle
• Begins with puberty
• Prepares the female for pregnancy
• 4 periods to cycle
–Proestrus
–Oestrus
–Metestrus
–Diestrus
• Proestrus
–follicular development from FSH
–Estrogen increasing
 Oestrus
• Female sexually receptive (standing
heat)
• Oestrogen levels high
• length ~ 12 hrs. to several days
• Production of LH & FSH
• Ovulation late or following oestrus
 Metoestrus
• CL (Corpus Luteum) forms
• Produces progesterone
 Diestrus
• If pregnancy occurs, CL remains
–progesterone high
• If no pregnancy, prostaglandin from
uterus causes CL regression
 PREGNANCY
• Length of Pregnancy, days
–cow 282, 9 mo, 12 days
–sow 114, 3 mo, 3 wks., 3 days
–ewe 150, 5 mo
–mare 336, 11 mo +
• Sperm combines with ovum
• ONLY 1 sperm can enter ovum
• Cell divisions start
–sometimes split, forming identical
twins
• Fertilization takes place in oviduct
• Fertilized ovum moves down to uterine
horn (or uterus) for implantation
 Placentation
• After implantation into the
uterine endometrium, the
developing embryo becomes
surrounded by the chorionic,
amniotic, and allantois
membranes.
• In mammals, nutrients and wastes are
exchanged with the maternal
circulation across a specialized region of
these membranes called the placenta.
• The placenta provides a large surface
area of close association between the
two independent circulations for
diffusive and carrier mediated
exchange.
 Parturition (giving birth)
• Placenta produces more oestrogen
• Causes prostaglandin from uterine wall
• Regression of CL, reduced progesterone
• RELAXIN causes pelvic muscles, ligaments to
‘loosen’
• PROLACTIN stimulates milk synthesis
• Oxytocin stimulates & strengthens uterine
contractions
Parturition (giving birth)
 Difficulties at Birth
• Orientation at birth • Membranes cover
– rear first nose, prevent
– one leg back
breathing
– head twisted
– too large
• Retained placenta
– inadequate contraction • Abnormal bleeding
strength • Premature births
– too long a birth process
• stillborn
Dystocia
 What is Parturition?
• Act of process of giving birth
Signs of Approaching Parturition
• Distended abdomen
• Mammary development & milk secretion
• Swollen vulva and relaxed pelvic
ligaments
• Mucous discharge
• Relentlessness and separation from
group
 Signs of Parturition in Cattle
• One week - mammary glands fill with
milk, tail head ligaments relax, and you
will see a waxing of teats.
• 12-24 hours - frequent defecation and
urination, anorexia, looking for young,
makes a nest or seeks out an isolated
area.
 Stages of Parturition
• Stage 1- Preparatory Stage
• Stage 2- Birthing Process
• Stage 3- Placenta Expulsion
 Stage 1- Preparatory Stage
• Characterized by widening of the
cervix.
• Rhythmic contractions of the uterus.
• At the end of this stage, the cervix
expands, allowing the uterus and
vagina to become a continuous
canal.
 Stage 2- Birthing Process
• Increase in contractions with abdominal
pressing.
• The placenta, along with the head and
forelegs, are forced into the vagina (birth
canal).
• Presentation is forelegs first with the nose
resting on the forelegs.
–Anterior “head first”
Birthing Process
 Stage 3- Placenta Expulsion
• Associated with uterine contractions
• Normally expelled within 12 hours
• Placenta of each species should be expelled
within the following time periods
– Mare- one hour
– Cow and ewe- 8to 24 hours
– Sow – normally attached to fetus at birth
 Parturition
Giving birth:
 Called calving in cattle
 Lambing in sheep
 Farrowing in swine
 Kidding in goats
 Whelping in dogs

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 Parturition

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 Parturition

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