In terms of reproductive performance in sheep flocks at what 7 stages do you measure
1) pre-joining
2) gestation
3) ferilisation
4) early gestation
5) later gestation
6) birth -0-3 days
7) lamb marking
How do you measure reproductive performance on a farm during pre-joining, gestation and fertilisation and common issues
1) Pre-joining - Enter oestrus but not as much ovulation - fewer multiples
- One of the most important ones in sheep industry
2) Gestation - failure of insemination -> ram unable or unwilling to inseminate the ewe
- Now get increase in returns to service and fat rams (not as much activity)
3) Fertilisation - If ram the issue -> less maiden ewes (about 2 years old) pregnant
- Toxic problem and accumulative generally problem in older ewes (decrease pregnancy)
How do you measure reproductive performance on farm during early gestation and what is important about this stage
pregnancy diagnosis in second trimester so will come up then
- Few pregnant and aborted foetuses (generally don’t find aborted foetuses)
PRENGNANCY SCANNING -> first time can check for losses from ovulation to early gestation
- Unsure on when reproductive failure has occurred
How do you measure reproductive performance in late gestation, birth 0-3 days and lamb marking. which is most important
1) Later gestation - aborted foetuses are the clinical signs - again don’t see often
2) Birth + 0-3 days - due to perinatal ability of the mother (colostrum, weather etc), will see via dead newborns and low marking %
3) LAMB MARKING -> 1-2 weeks after lambing marking occurs - second time can check for reproductive failure
What are the 4 main reasons ewes might be in anoestrus in pre-joining
How to tell that ewes are in anoestrus at pre-joining and what influences anostreous if ewes old enough what is the main determinant of anoestrus
Anoestrus ewes show no mating activity
- Won’t be observed standing to be mated by rams
- Won’t be marked by rams wearing mating harnesses
If ewes are old enough, right and no toxins still depends on CONDITION SCORE
- Aim at condition score 3 mating and lambing
○ Increasing condition score = fewer dry ewes, more twins
- Short-term increased protein intake pre-mating (flushing) also increases conception rate
- 1 extra CS = extra 10-20% lambs born
What are the 4 main reasons rams may not inseminate ewes
What are the 2 reasons rams may mount ewes but not fertilise and how to prevent this
What is a common disease cause of failed fertilisation in male, why does it lead to this, what lead to in females and transmission
Ovine Brucellosis (Brucella ovis)
- Mainly male infertility
○ Epididymis & testicular granulomas (shrink) after inflammation (swelling) -> asymmetry of testicle
○ Ewe abortions rare(?)
- Spreads male to male
○ ± mechanical transmission via served ewes -> 1 day to a week the bacteria can last in the vagina
Homosexual behaviour between rams -> transmission
Ovine Brucellosis (Brucella ovis) how present and treat
Ovine Brucellosis (Brucella ovis) what are the 3 main options for eradicating and which recommended with pros and cons, also what diseases look like this and therefore should be tested for
Ovine Brucellosis (Brucella ovis) diagnosis and intervention timeline what are the 8 steps
What are some causes of failure of fertilisation of the ewe with return to service or without return to service
Oestrogenic clover what is the disease caused by, what occurs and clinical signs
Clover disease caused by phytoestrogens
- Impaired sperm transport or chronic uterine change
Clinical Signs
○ More older dry ewes - decrease fertility in older ewes
§ Accumulative effect -> longer exposure in older ewes so permanent infertility
○ Increased teat length, precocious lactation, enlarged genitalia in wethers & dry ewes
○ Vaginal, uterine prolapse (& ewe & lamb mortality)
Oestrogenic clover disease diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis ○ Identify clover ○ Wether teat length assay ○ Uterine histopathology -> cystic endometrial hyperplasia - not common Treatment ○ Avoid risk pastures near joining ○ Cull at younger age(?) ○ Graze cattle ○ Reduce stocking rate (to ↑ grass & ↓ clover) ○ Pasture renovation
Embryonic or foetal loss clinical signs and causes d12
List the 3 main infectious causes of foetal loss and what do they all have in common
1) campylobacter
2) toxoplasma
3) listeria
- all zoonotic
- all oral
Campylobacter how transmit, what occurs with infection, diagnosis and treatment
Toxoplasma how transmit, what occurs with infection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
oral exposure to oocyst in cat faeces (generally younger cat)
- Protective immunity again important - so abortion depends on if pregnant when first exposed
○ Again main issue with maiden ewes -> so just vaccinate these (only in NZ)
- Foetal brain - good to find histology signs, maternal serology also important
- Treatment -> may not work as well if foetuses are already dying -> not 100% effective
- Prevention -> manage contact between ewes and cats -> exposure BEFORE PREGNANT
Listeria transmission, what age occur, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Define pregnancy rate and conception rate, possible value, normal range, when measured and how to increase
Pregnancy rate
- No. ewes detected pregnant/ No. ewes mated x 100
- 0-100%
- >95%
Conception rate
- No. foetuses detected/
No. ewes mated x 100
- 0-200%+ (triplets)
- 95% (single lambing merinos) 150+% - fecund breed
- Measured at pregnancy scanning - later than bovine or equine
INCREASE - via nutrition (body condition score) at mating
Define lambing rate and marking rate, possible value, normal range, when measure and how
Lambing rate - No lambs born/ No. ewe mated x 100 - 0-150+% - 95-150+% - Could be measured in the post-lambing period by regular counting of lambs, must include detection of dead lambs (hard to count)
Define marking rate and weaning rate, possible value, normal range, when measure and how
Marking rate
- No. lambs marked/
No. ewes mated x 100
- 0-100+%
- 70 (merinos) - 150%
If <65% flock won’t breed enough to be self-replacing
- Count from lamb marking (2 weeks after end of lambing)
Large loss generally between lambing and marking - due to hypothermia, bad mothering etc.
Weaning rate
- No. lambs weaned/
No. ewes mated x 100
- 0-100+%
- 70-150%
- Usually little change from marking to weaning, except if outbreak of infectious disease eg tetanus
What are the 4 ways to influence the oestrous cycle
1) melatonin
2) ovastim vaccination
3) PGF2 alpha
4) glucocorticoids