ANIMAL REPRODUCTION
cod. 1004796

Academic year 2024/25
3° year of course - First semester
Professor
Carla BRESCIANI
Academic discipline
Clinica ostetrica e ginecologia veterinaria (VET/10)
Field
Discipline della sanità animale
Type of training activity
Characterising
47 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

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 frontal lessons will be given in the classroom, while practical exercises will be carried out on reproductive organs from slaughterhouses and in living animals directly in the herds or structures of the Department of Veterinary Sciences. 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 includes:
1) Written question to three open questions about the program being carried out.
2) During the written test, the student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the essential elements of management of reproduction, stables and pig farms; Artificial fertilization techniques in the same species; And the assistance provided to the newborn of the same species and finally the management of the seminal material. In addition, it will be required to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding acquired in identifying the problems of managing livestock breeding and knowing how to prepare an appropriate sickness plan and appropriate disease prevention synergy with the veterinarian.
3) The written test will be evaluated with a scale from 0 to 30 votes. Praise is given in the case of achieving the highest score on each item to which the disciplinary vocabulary is added.
An examination with an overall score of 18/30 is sufficient The duration of the written test is two hours.

Other information

None

2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

- - -

Contacts

Toll-free number

800 904 084

Student registry office

+39 0521 902604
segreteria.medicinaveterinaria@unipr.it

Quality assurance office

Education manager:
Ms. Giulia Branca
+39 0521 902601
Office e-mail didvet@unipr.it
Manager e-mail giulia.branca@unipr.it

President of the degree course

Prof. Claudio Cipolat Gotet 
claudio.cipolatgotet@unipr.it

Faculty advisor

Prof. Federico Righi
federico.righi@unipr.it

Career guidance delegate

Prof. Alberto Sabbioni
alberto.sabbioni@unipr.it

Erasmus delegates

Prof. Federico Righi
federico.righi@unipr.it

Quality assurance manager

Prof. Mattia Iotti 
mattia.iotti@unipr.it

Internships

Prof. Alberto Sabbioni
alberto.sabbioni@unipr.it