1. Reproduction
AGRI 1419 Labortory

2. Female Reproductive Tract
Broad Ligament
Infundibulum
Vaginal Sphincter

3. Female Reproductive System
Vagina – Copulatory organ where sperm is deposited
Cervix – Serves as “gatekeeper” , keeps semen in and foreign contaminant material out
Uterus – Where the pregnancy is stored during gestation
Uterine Horn – Pathway for sperm to travel, pathway for conceptus to travel
Oviduct –Site of fertilization
Infundibulum – “Catcher’s mitt”- catches oocyte after ovulation and transports it to oviduct
Ovary – Houses and matures the follicles that will be fertilized
Broad Ligament – very durable connective tissue that holds the female reproductive in its anatomical position

4. Estrous vs Estrus?
Estrous Cycle- cyclical phenomenon of one Estrus to the next
Anestrous- When Estrous Cycle has stopped
Age
Pregnancy
Malnutrition
Abnormality (Cystic)
Estrus- is the time of sexual receptivity of the female (Heat)
Duration of standing estrus in females (approximate):
Cow 15hr
Ewe 30hr
Sow 50hr
Mare 7 days
Females undergo several changes during estrus:
Mounting other animals
Increased movement/activity
Increased phonation (vocalization)
Increased levels of estrogen in the blood make the vulva become swollen and red in color
Standing to be mounted

5. Female Hormones
Estrogen – major female hormone, has inverse relationship with progesterone
Progesterone – hormone of pregnancy, needed for the maintenance of pregnancy, inverse relationship with Estrogen
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) – hormone that promotes ovulation and Corpus Luteum development
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - regulates follicular growth
Prostaglandin F2Alpha (PGF2α) – hormone that lyses the CL and initiates estrus
Gonadotropin releasing Hormone (GnRH) – stimulates hypothalamus to produce LH

6. Female Hormones Hormone Origin Point of Stimulation Function
Artificial Sources
Estrogen
Mature (Graffin) Follicle
Hypothalamus
Stimulates GnRH Production
Progesterone
Corpus Luteum
Ovary
Maintains Pregnancy
CIDR
FSH
Anterior Pituitary Gland
Follicles
Promotes Follicular Growth LH
Causes Ovulation and Corpus Luteum Development
PGF2α
Uterine Horns
Regresses, Destroys, or Lysis Corpus Luteum
Lutayse, Estramate
GnRH
Anterior Pituitary
Stimulates LH Production
Cysterolin

7. Follicle Development

8. Lack of Pregnancy Recognition
Estrogen
Anterior
Pituitary
Gland
GnRH
LH #1
Lack of Pregnancy Recognition
FSH
LH #2
PGF2α
High Levels of Progesterone
High Levels of
Progesterone
FSH

9. Follicular vs Luteal Phases
PGF2α
FSH

10. Gestation Lengths Gestation Length – Length of pregnancy
Cow – 283 days
Sow – 114 days (3 months 3 weeks 3 days)
Ewe – days
Nanny – days

11. Male Reproductive Tract
Tubular portion:
Seminiferous Tubules – sperm production occurs here
Epididymis – stores sperm cells
Vas deferens – accessory sex glands
Urethra – exit site for sperm
Rete Testes – passage from seminiferous tubules to the head of epididymis
Leydig Cells-
Produce testosterone
Accessory Glands:
Ampulla
Vesicular Gland
Prostate Gland
Bulbourethral Gland

12. Accessory Sex Glands Functions of Accessory Sex Glands
Adds volume to ejaculate
Flushes urethra of any toxic substance that could cause an infection (urine) before ejaculate is passed through
Adds fructose to ejaculate to serve as an energy source for the spermatozoa
Adds buffer to ejaculate to keep pH as neutral as possible
Adds gel fraction to ejaculate to allow adherence within the female reproductive tract

13. Temperature Control Mechanisms
Testicles must be kept 2-4 degrees cooler than the rest of the body for sperm to remain viable.
Location outside of body
Lack of fat or hair
Tunica Dartos
More sweat glands there than any other part of body

14. Sperm Delivery
Before any reproductive activity has taken place, the developed spermatozoa is stored in the tail of the epididymis.
When sexual excitement occurs, the sperm is shipped via contractions to the pelvic urethra
Spermatozoa are mixed with seminal plasma produced by the accessory sex glands
After the mixing of spermatozoa and seminal plasma, the the sperm is then ejaculated out of the penis

15. Artificial Insemination
Is single handedly responsible for the genetic advancement of animals in the past 50 years.
Gives every producer the ability to utilize the best sires in the world
Allows the producer to complement his/her females to the bull that best fits their phenotype
Increases progeny/sire
Eliminates danger of handling males
Disease control (STD)

16. Prerequisites of AI Must have successful heat detection program
Complete and accurate record keeping system
Balanced nutritional program
Adequate facilities
Must be trained or have someone trained that is present to perform the procedure

17. Estrous Synchronization
Some producers will use hormone products to synchronize the time of estrus of their females in order to make it easier for A.I.
Ex: CIDRS – Progesterone

19. Semen Preparation
Semen storage and preparation can greatly affect the viability of sperm
Semen is generally stored in a liquid nitrogen tank that is F
If the semen temperature is raised above -112 F, the semen must be thawed and used immediately or the sperm cells will be damaged
It is possible to currently “sex” semen, to determine if the sperm carries the Y-chromosome. This is very valuable in the dairy industries where heifers are desired

20. Embryo Tansfer
Gonadotropins are used to hyperstimulate the ovary to produce a multitude of dominant follicles to ovulate.
The ovulated eggs are collected, inseminated, and transported into recipient females who will carry out the pregnancy
This increases the number of progeny from an outstanding female/male mating

22. SUPEROVULATION PROTOCOL
Beginning Estrus Angus 014, 175
CIDR inserts –
Treatment Schedules
AM ml Folltropin (50 mg FSH)
PM ml Folltropin
AM ml Folltropin
5 ml Lutalyse also to recipients
AM ml Folltropin
Remove CIDR also from recipients
AM ml Folltropin
AM Expect Estrus
breed 3X at 12 hr intervals or 2X at 18 hr intervals
Embryo Collection