Equine Terminology and Reproduction PDF

Equine ====== ***terminology*** - intact male: stallion - castrated male: gelding - adult female: mare - general offspring name: foal - filly: female foal - colt: male foal - birth: foaling - breeding/mating: covering - unit of measurement: hand - 1 hand =...

Equine ====== ***terminology*** - intact male: stallion - castrated male: gelding - adult female: mare - general offspring name: foal - filly: female foal - colt: male foal - birth: foaling - breeding/mating: covering - unit of measurement: hand - 1 hand = 4 in - horse under 14.1 hands tall: pony - donkey: ass or burrow - males: jack or jackass - females: jenny or jennet - mule: bred from jack & mare - sterile - hinny: bred from stallion & jenny   ***reproduction*** - sexual maturity age varies by breed - light breeds: 12-18 months - arabians: 2-3 years - draft breeds: 18-24 months - large breeds = longer - mares should not be bred before 2 years old - 3 years is preferred - seasonally polyestrous - many heat cycles during season - april-july - go into heat every 21 days - heat: 5-7 days - ovulate towards end of heat cycle - if breeding - wait until after first 2 days of heat - heat signs: - relaxation of vulva - frequent urination - mucous discharge from vulva - \"teaser\" males used to test if a mare is in heat - observe behavioral changes - vocalization - squat, urinate, lift tail - winking of vulva - make sure mare is current on vaccines - current Coggins test (test for infectious disease) - certain vaccines are recommended to be given during pregnancy - breeding methods - AI (some breed associations will not recognize breeds from this method) - hand breeding - safety precautions taken - under supervision - female - hobbled - male - muzzled - safer for the horses, not for people - corral breeding - male & female put in small area (corral) and allowed to breed - safer for people, but not for the horses - pasture breeding - breeding male & multiple females in a pasture - high risk of injury for horses, no human harm - no breeding date   ***gestation*** - 340 days (11 months) - after birth mares go into post-partum heat - \"9 day foal heat\" (5-12 days after birth) - female has potential to be bred back - disadvantage - high risk of uterine infection - lower conception rate - advantages - foals bred during foal heat born earlier in the year - gives an edge during competition   ***offspring*** - typically have 1 foal at a time - very rare to have twins - one is usually stillborn - mares are not capable of supporting more than 1 foal at a time - pregnancy check is performed - check for two embryos - one destroyed with crushing motion during palpation   ***pregnancy detection*** - rectal examination : few weeks into gestation - palpate rectum through uterus - ultrasound : few weeks into gestation - blood & urine tests : 60 days into gestation - not common - can\'t detect twins   ***signs of foaling*** - distended udder (\"bagging up\") - milk starts coming in - usually begins 2-6 weeks before birth - relaxation of vulva - waxing - film like accumulation under teats - wavy - occurs due to   ***foaling*** - once labor begins: - sweating - change positions from upright to laying frequently - foaling should take place: - dry, warm pasture - clean stall so they are easy to monitor - video equipment common - foal watch system - once water breaks: - foal should be out within 10-30 min - superman position - vet notified if problems with either - after birth: - dry foal w towels & put straw in nares to stim. breathing - umbilical cord treated w iodine - foal should be standing within an hour & nursing within 2 - have 18 hours to ingest colostrum before the gut wall changes - blood test typically run @ 12 hours to determine if antibodies received - if negative - feed stored colostrum - placenta should be passed within 3 hours - if not within 6 - call vet - become necrotic tissue & cause uterine infections - inspect to make sure all has passed - mares need cooled down & dried off - mares often need sutured - vulva needs stitched after foaling due to size of offspring   ***foal dietary considerations*** - foals 2-3 weeks old: can be introduced to concentrates (grains) - gradually begin to eat hay - builds up microorganisms in cecum so that fermentation can occur once mature - main nutrient source is still mother\'s milk - weaned: 4-6 months of age   ***foal*** - castration of colts: 1 year of age - early spring or fall - cooler weather decreases amount of flies present - if maggots get into surgical site- bad infection & other problems occur - best in a clean, dry pasture   ***forms of identification*** - determined by what is acceptable for breed association - tattoo lip - branding - microchips   ***digestion*** - monogastric herbivores - well developed cecum - ferment cellulose - adult horse dietary considerations - roughages (hay, grass, plants) - concentrates (grains, oats, corn) - NEVER feed silage/moldy hay - gas build up = colic   ***colic*** abdominal pain - causes - indigestion - help by feeding regular & normal diet - intestinal obstruction - impaction (fecal blockage- constipation) - inflammation of intestines - parasites - prevention - appropriate diet - feed @ correct time w right food - regular deworming - prevent parasites - avoid feeding moldy hay - causes indigestion - clinical signs - pawing at ground w front foot - flank watching & kicking - sweating - anxious - refusing food - rolling on ground - straining to defecate - lethargic & depressed - treatment - stomach tube - increase water intake & mineral oil to help lubricate GI tract - manually remove fecal matter - enemas - composed of mineral oil to lubricate - oral meds not often given - concern for aspiration if go down trachea into lungs - can cause secondary pneumonia - large amount of water in lungs is bad, oil in lungs is worse - empty GI tract - walk - prevent rolling - fluid therapy (IV fluids) - pain meds - decrease rolling - if intestinal torsion occurs surgery is required - intestines twist - large blood vessels in intestines twist which cuts off blood supply- animal goes into shock Bovine ====== ***terminology*** - young female (preg w 1st/2nd calf): heifer - female after 2 calves: cow - not lactating: dry cow - intact male: bull - castrated male: steer - parturition: calving - female showing signs of heat: bulling - mount other F - mucus discharge from vulva - restlessness - F calf born to a male twin: free martin   ***reproduction*** - puberty: 12 months of age - polyestrous - every 21 days - heat: 12 hours - gestation = 283 days - dairy lactation = 305 days   ***determining pregnancy*** - rectal palpation - 30 days into gestation - most popular - ballottement - during late gestation - use finger/fist to push sharply against uterus & detect the presence/position of a fetus by its return impact - ultrasound - done the first couple weeks into gestation   ***calving*** - labor = 4-6 hours - reasons for dystocia - calf coming out in wrong position (not superman) - pelvic opening too small - calf too large   ***after calving*** - beef cows - calves remain with mothers - dairy cows - calf taken away from mother 1st day after birth - dairy females will be raised - dairy males go to slaughter as veal (meat production) - calves bottle fed for 4-8 weeks - slowly begin to nibble on roughages to introduce microbes to digestive system   *dairy cow operations* - heifers puberty: 12 months - bred at 15 months - first time heifers: increased dystocia risk - bull selection important - heifers kept separate from cows - cows push them away from feed - peak lactation = time during the highest milk yield - usually 2-3 months after calving - bred back during this time - 60 day dry period (no milk produced) - important to allow cow to regain body condition - corresponds to last 60 days of gestation - allows mammary tissue to regenerate   - dairy cows are grouped together & rotate through groups - various dietary & other considerations - high group - high milk yield - close to peak location - drain of the body\'s resources - increased nutrient requirement - lacking nutrients = decreased fertility rate - low group - close to dry period - slower milk production (slowed/not as frequent) - dry group - non lactating   ***beef cattle operations*** - feeder calves: calves up to 400 lbs. - bought as calves to feed & mature - finisher: calves around 800 lbs. - fed until slaughter weight - separated out & housed @ different places based on life stages:   **cow- calf operations** - breeding heifers (first time mother) - puberty: 12 months - bred: 15 months - bull selection important to reduce dystocia - smaller size better - cattle = polyestrous (no true breeding season) - beef cows typically need to birth in spring (warm) - money not spent on hay/housing costs - \"calf-crop\" kept out on a pasture - bull selection - fertility - good libido - pedigree records - herd heath program - anything implemented to prevent disease - vaccines, deworming, herd checks (physical exams) - weaning weights - calves weaned at same time - weight affects product - higher weight = higher profit - disease decreases weight - calves left on their mother for 6-10 months - fed roughages after for a few months - goal weight = 400-650 lbs - sold as feeder calves   **stocker - yearling operations** - feeder calves bought, fed, raised until 1 yr old - bought around 6 months of age (kept from 6-12m) - bought based on units of weight - try to buy light weight animal with a heavy frame (big boned) - should be able to gain & support weight easily considerations: - market price - cost vs sold - high feed costs - herd heath program - shipping/transport exposes them to more illness/disease - purchase animals w good gaining ability - \"big boned\" - gain weight easily - how to transport (method w least stress) - body weight loss during transport - stress - ideal weight = 600-800 lbs   **feedlot operations** - 800 lb feeder calves taken to be finished to market weight - finished around 15-24 months - ideal finish weight = 900-1300 lbs - considerations - feed \$\$ - kept on a lot & fed large amounts to gain weight quickly - herd health - maintaining facilities