Learning objectives
The course aims to enable the student to know and understand the essential elements of the reproduction of livestock, to transmit knowledge of the reproductive management of the cow, mare, sow, and the ways in which takes place on the farm. The course wants to bring the student to the acquisition of the technique of artificial insemination in farm animals and the ability to make a macroscopic and microscopic semen in different livestock species. The student must be able to assist a veterinarian with independent judgment and will be able to assist a veterinarian in carrying out and implementing good diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive practices. In addition, students should be able to manage the breeding in domestic animals, starting from the good knowledge of the principles of reproductive management, the main reproductive pathologies to interact with the figure of the Veterinarian with autonomy of judgment.
At the end of the teaching activity the student must demonstrate to be able:
- to define the concepts of management of reproduction knowing the basics of this herd aspect, performing artificial insemination techniques and how to assist labor and the neonatal assistance in farm animals;
- to discuss and organize the management of the herd, the stable and the swine farrowing room;
- to be able to evaluate and criticize the consequences of reproductive diseases in a herd;
- to demonstrate to have legislative knowledge regarding reproduction and animal semen material.
- to evaluate the appropriate biosecurity and medical measure, and prophylaxis to be carried out in the delivery rooms, calves boxes an foal (the nursery).
- to know how to collect data needed to evaluate reproduction management applied to intensive breeding;
- to express themselves clearly and with appropriate terms during a description of concepts relating
to the reproduction of animals of interest livestock.
- to identify the veterinary context of a discussion and get involved by the figures discussed to
make a contribution to the discussion itself.
- the student will be able to manage the business issues related to the breeding of domestic
animals of zootechnical interest;
- to approach the animals to artificial inseminated them.
Prerequisites
The Propedeuticity of Physiology in Domestic Animals.
Course unit content
The reproductive anatomy and neuro-endocrinological control of the estrous cycle and of the spermiogenesis in the farm animal (cattle, equine and pigs).
Behavioral manifestations and clinical findings of the estrous cycle in the bovine, equine and swine species.
Reproductive techniques in the Bovine species and the principles of artificial insemination in cattle, technique on reproductive genital tract from slaughterhouse and on animal belonged to the Departmental farm (practical). The thawing procedures, methods of conservation and handling of bovine frozen semen. Pregnancy in the bovine species. Embryo transfer in bovine species.
Delivery phase and how to attend a delivery - bovine assistance, calf assistance, and placenta evaluation. The dystocia, the failure of colostral passive immunity in the calf and its consequences.
Considerations on bovine reproduction disease in the herd.
The breeding techniques in Equine species, and the principles of artificial insemination in the mare: description of the technique, technique on reproductive genital tract from slaughterhouse and on animal belonged to the Departmental farm (practical). The thawing procedures, the methods of conservation and handling of equine frozen semen. Embryo transfer in equine species.
Mare's perineum evaluation and Caslick technique. Pregnancy in the equine species.
Delivery phase in the mare and how to attend a delivery - labor protocol, assistance to the newborn foal and placenta evaluation. The dystocia. The Failure of colostral passive immunity in the foal and its consequences.
Notes on the reproductive pathologies of the mare.
Reproductive techniques in the swine species and the principles of artificial insemination in the sow. The management of the farrowing room.
Collection of equine and porcine seminal material - macroscopic and microscopic semen evaluation (how performing a fertility test), calculation of dosage.
The characteristic of equine and swine chilled semen.
Freezing the stallion and bull semen.
Notes of biotechnology applied to animal breeding
European and Italian rules on animal breeding
Tips on health management of a breeding - active and passive biosecurity.
Informatic herds management programs and animal flow in the farrowing room.
Full programme
The reproductive anatomy and neuro-endocrinological control of the estrous cycle and of the spermiogenesis in the farm animal (cattle, equine and pigs).
Behavioral manifestations and clinical findings of the estrous cycle in the bovine, equine and swine species.
Reproductive techniques in the Bovine species and the principles of artificial insemination in cattle, technique on reproductive genital tract from slaughterhouse and on animal belonged to the Departmental farm (practical). The thawing procedures, methods of conservation and handling of bovine frozen semen. Pregnancy in the bovine species. Embryo transfer in bovine species.
Delivery phase and how to attend a delivery - bovine assistance, calf assistance, and placenta evaluation. The dystocia, the failure of colostral passive immunity in the calf and its consequences.
Considerations on bovine reproduction disease in the herd.
The breeding techniques in Equine species, and the principles of artificial insemination in the mare: description of the technique, technique on reproductive genital tract from slaughterhouse and on animal belonged to the Departmental farm (practical). The thawing procedures, the methods of conservation and handling of equine frozen semen. Embryo transfer in equine species.
Mare's perineum evaluation and Caslick technique. Pregnancy in the equine species.
Delivery phase in the mare and how to attend a delivery - labor protocol, assistance to the newborn foal and placenta evaluation. The dystocia. The Failure of colostral passive immunity in the foal and its consequences.
Notes on the reproductive pathologies of the mare.
Reproductive techniques in the swine species and the principles of artificial insemination in the sow. The management of the farrowing room.
Collection of equine and porcine seminal material - macroscopic and microscopic semen evaluation (how performing a fertility test), calculation of dosage.
The characteristic of equine and swine chilled semen.
Freezing the stallion and bull semen.
Notes of biotechnology applied to animal breeding
European and Italian rules on animal breeding
Tips on health management of a breeding - active and passive biosecurity.
Computer herds management programs and animal flow in the farrowing room.
Bibliography
P.L. Senger - PATHWAYS TO PREGNANCY AND PARTURITION - SECOND REVISED EDITION - wwww.currentconceptions.com ISBN 0-9657648-2-6 - 2003.
R.S. Youngquist - W. R. Threlfall - CURRENT THERAPY IN LARGE ANIMAL THERIOGENOLOGY, SECOND EDITION ISBN 10: 0-7216-9323-7 ISBN 13: 978-0-7216-9323-1 - 2007.
McKinnon A.O., J.L. Voss, EQUINE REPRODUCTION, Ed. Lea & Febiger, 1993.
P.Hyttel, F.Sinowatz, M.Vejlsted, K.Betteridge, ESSENTIALS OF DOMESTIC ANIMAL EMBRYOLOGY ISBN 978-0-7020-2899-1, 2010.
Ian Gordon, REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN FARM ANIMALS - ISBN 0 85199 862 3 - CABI publishing, 2004.
Terry L. Blanchard - MANUAL OF EQUINE REPRODUCTION II ED. - EV Edizioni vet. (catalogo SCIVAC) - www.evsrl.it/distribuzione/
J. Samper - EQUINE BREEDING MANAGEMENT AND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION - EV Edizioni vet. - www.evsrl.it/distribuzione/
D. Morel - EQUINE REPRODUCTIVE PHISIOLOGY, BREEDING & STUD MANAGEMENT -3rd Edition - Oct. 2008 - www.cabi.org
B.W. Pickett, E.L. Squires et al. - PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTION AND EVALUATION AND UTILIZATION OF STALLION SEMEN FOR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION - CSU Animal Reproduction
Laboratory Bullettin n. 03 - www.colostate.edu
E.L. Squires et al. - COOLED AND FROZEN STALLION SEMEN FOR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION - CSU A.R.B.L. Bullettin n.09 -www.colostate.edu
G. Sali: GESTIONE CLINICA DELLA RIPRODUZIONE BOVINA Ed. Point Veterinarie Italie, 2013
Richter J., Goetze R.: OSTETRICIA VETERINARIA. Ed. italiana a cura di O. Oliva, Grasso, Bologna. Patologia della riproduzione e F.A.
C. Mazzoni “LA GESTIONE DELLA SALA PARTO” Editore: Le Point Veterinaire Italie. 2007
J. J. Zimmerman, L. A. Karriker, A. Ramirez, K. J. Schwartz, G. W. Stevenson “Diseases of Swine” Ed Wiley Blackwell 10th Edition
Lawrence T.L.J., Flower V.R.: GROWTH OF FARM ANIMALS. Cab Intern Ed., 1997.
Teaching methods
The lectures will be given in synchronous distance mode using the Teams platform, following the didactic calendar with a part of the lesson reserved for the discussion of the topics covered. The practices reserved for practical exercises will be replaced by support videos made by the teacher carried out both on reproductive organs from local slaughterhouses and on live animals in the Department facilities at the educational veterinary hospital and in the field at farms.
The slides used to support lessons will be uploaded weekly on the Elly platform. Slides are considered an integral part of the teaching material. It reminds students not
Attending to check the available teaching material and the directions provided by the teacher through the
Elly platformFor practical activities students will be divided into four-five groups.
Bibliographic references of English-speaking international articles on breeding topics applied to animal husbandry and equine breeding will be provided.
.
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment of learning at the end of the course will be carried out remotely via the Teams platform according to the exam calendar through:
1) An oral question with three open questions regarding the program carried out.
2) During the oral exam the student will have to demonstrate that they know and understand the essential elements of the management of company reproduction, stable and pig and sheep breeding; the techniques of artificial fertilization in the same species; and the assistance to be provided to the newborn of the same species and finally the evaluation and management of bovine, equine and porcine seminal material. Furthermore, he will be asked to show the knowledge and understanding acquired in identifying the problems of reproductive management of a livestock farm and to be able to prepare an adequate care and disease prevention plan in synergy with the veterinarian.
3) The oral exam will be assessed with a 0-30 grade scale. In particular, during the test the degree of knowledge achieved in the subject will be evaluated, the ability to connect between the elements of reproductive physiology, the business management of reproductive events (management of estrus, application of artificial fertilization techniques, reproductive results, prevention of pathological events). Honors are awarded in the case of achieving the maximum score on each item to which the mastery of the disciplinary vocabulary is added. An exam with at least an overall score of 18/30 will be considered sufficient.
Other information
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