Reproduction 3

Friday, October 20
Learning Objectives
GAC E: Explore breeding and reproductive management of selected livestock
species.
❖ Estrous cycle

❖ Reproductive hormones

❖ Breeding cycles (similarities and differences)

Today:

❖ Introduction to reproductive management practices.

❖ Describe practices of using hormones for reproductive management of selected

livestock species.
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Reproductive ➔ What do we manage?
Management ➔ Practices/Tools/Techniques

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Managing Livestock Reproduction
Why manage reproduction?

❖ Achieve production goals

➢ Breeding stock = specific goal
➢ Produce offspring for future production
■ Animal products
■ Replacement stock

❖ Finances
➢ Expenses/costs of production C. Schroeder (2023)

➢ Profit

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Managing Livestock Reproduction
Female Management: Male Management:
❖ Breeding/mating ❖ Breeding/mating
❖ Gestation ❖ Genetics
❖ Parturition
❖ Nutrition
❖ Genetics
❖ Animal health
❖ Nutrition
❖ Animal health

➔ Deeper dive into genetics next week!

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Reproduction Management
➔ Female Breeding/Mating

1. Hormone Administration
❖ Synchronize estrous cycles
➢ E2 and P4 , prostaglandins
➔ Various livestock species
❖ Advance puberty ➔ Group management
➢ Induce estrous cycle ➔ Timing for efficiency
➢ Prostaglandins

❖ Suppress the estrous cycle

➢ Young breeding stock (heifers, ewe lambs, gilts, etc.)
➢ P4
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Reproduction Management
➔ Female Breeding/Mating

2. Artificial Insemination (AI)

❖ Human intervention
➢ Inseminating female + semen collection

❖ By hand and/or with technology/equipment

❖ Various livestock sectors

➢ Turkey
➔ Group management
➢ Cattle
➔ Control timing and precision
➢ Swine
➢ Sheep/goats
➔ Fertilization success
➢ Equine
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 Reproduction Management
➔ Female Breeding/Mating
Semen Tank
(Genex, 2023)
2. Artificial Insemination (AI)

Cattle AI equipment
(IMV Technologies, 2023) ➔ Species specific equipment,
female vs. male!

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Reproduction Management
➔ Female Breeding/Mating

3. Estrus Detection
➔ Various livestock species
❖ Identifying when to breed ➔ Group or individual management
➢ Standing heat ➔ Precise with timing

3 Methods
1. Behaviour (mounting, activity level/restless, vocalization, seeking behaviour)
2. Physical Appearance (external reproductive organs, secretions)
3. Detection Devices (technology and equipment)

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Reproduction Management
➔ Estrus detection
❖ Breeding and mounting indicators

Kamar, 2022

Kamar, 2022

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 Reproduction Management
➔ Estrus detection
❖ Tail markers (chalk, paint)

PBS Animal Health, 2022 11

 Reproduction Management
➔ Estrus detection
❖ Tail markers (chalk, paint)

Michigan State University, 2020 12

Reproduction Management
➔ Estrus detection

❖ Electronic mounting monitors

AccuBreed Cloud, 2022

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AccuBreed Cloud, 2022
 Reproduction Management
➔ Estrus detection
❖ Behaviours
Lordosis!

L. Craig, Clemson Cooperative Extension Service, 2022 14

 Reproduction Management
➔ Estrus detection
❖ Activity level or restlessness

GEA, 2022 15
Reproduction Management
➔ Female Breeding/Mating

4. Embryo Transfer
➔ Move embryo from the tract of one female (donor), to another (recipient)

❖ Technology
❖ Requires $$$ and skill
❖ Various livestock sectors
➢ Cattle
➢ Equine ➔ Transfer/maintain desirable genetics
➢ Swine ➔ Successful fertilization and pregnancy

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Reproduction Management
➔ Gestation

❖ Nutrition
➢ Body weight and body condition goals
➢ Nutrient requirements fetal development

❖ Pregnancy checking (preg checking)

➢ Ultrasound
➢ Physical feel

❖ Facilities and the environment

➢ Separation and groupings
➢ Ease of access for monitoring

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Reproduction Management
➔ Parturition

❖ Nutrition
➢ Body weight and body condition goals
➢ Nutrient requirements post-parturition

❖ Assistance with difficult or slow birth (dystocia)

➢ Hormone administration
➢ Physical, human intervention

❖ Facilities and space

➢ Separation and groupings
➢ Ease of access for monitoring
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Reproduction Management
➔ Parturition

❖ Offspring management
➢ Nutrition
➢ Processing
➢ Health and disease

❖ Maternal management
➢ Delivery of afterbirth (placenta)
➢ Nutrition and requirements
➢ Health and disease

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 ➔ Breeding/mating
Reproduction Management
➔ Males
❖ Fertility testing
➢ Semen quality - Amount/volume/concentration
➢ Libido - sex drive

❖ Genetics
➢ Desirable traits (structure and function)

❖ Physical appearance
Genetics
❖ Attitude and docility

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Reproductive
➔ What about poultry?!
Management

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Reproduction Management
➔ Female Breeding/Mating

Lighting Programs
❖ Controlled light exposure (automation and a schedule)
➢ Timing
➢ Amount Photoperiod
➢ Frequency Poultry-specifics:
❖ Breeding stock
❖ Controls: ➢ Turkeys
➢ Onset of puberty ➢ Broiler breeders
➢ Onset of lay
❖ Laying hens
➢ Persistency of egg laying

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Reproduction Management
➔ Breeding Stock

Females Males
❖ Managing the ovary ❖ Physical appearance
➢ Nutrition
➢ Lighting programs
❖ Genetics
➢ Environment ❖ Libido
❖ Egg laying and offspring ❖ Fertility
➢ Egg quality
➢ Fertility (candling)
➢ Genetics

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Reproduction Management
The Goals:
❖ Breeding and mating
➢ Copulation
➢ Optimal physiology (fertility, estrous cycle, internal drive for mating)

❖ Gestation, parturition
➢ Healthy mom and offspring

❖ Genetics
➢ Desirable traits

❖ Nutrition SUCCESS!
➢ Nutrition requirements

❖ Healthy animals
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Want to learn more about livestock
breeding and reproduction?

LVS 2570: Livestock Breeding Strategies

Fall Term

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Have a good weekend!