Animal

Reproduction
 Conditions for Fertilization

■ Anatomy of Male & Female must be

compatible
■ Female must be in Heat
■ Egg must be mature
 What is the function of the
Male?

■ produce large numbers of live sex

cells/gametes
(spermatozoa)
■ contribute 1/2 chromosomes
 What are the Male Reproductive
Organs?
■ Testicles - produce spermatozoa & male hormone
Testosterone
■ Scrotom - sack which carries testicles
– functions as a heat regulator
■ Monorchid - one fertile testicle
■ Cryptorchid - both testes remain in body cavity (sterile)
■ Castration - removal of testicles
– lack sex drive (libido)
– gain weight quicker
What are the Male Reproductive
Organs?

■ Epididymis - tube connects to testes

– storage of spermatozoa (200 billion at a time)
– spermatozoa mature as they migrate through
■ Vas Deferens - tube connects to
epididymus
– if removed, can't reproduce = vasectomy
What are the Male Reproductive
Organs?

■ Urethra - begins at bladder and continues

through penis
■ Sigmoid Flexure - "S" shape in urethra
allows for extension of penis outside of
body for reproduction
 Male Accessory Sex Glands

■ Prostate
■ 2 Seminal Vesicles
■ 2 Cowper’s glands
 What is the function of the
Accessory Sex Glands?

■ provide medium for transporting sperm

■ adds volume
■ provides nutrients
■ cleans & flushes urinary tract
 Artificial Insemination

•Required Equipment
•A.I. Rod
•Semen Straw
•Lube
•Genetic Diversity
•Select the bulls you want to use based on EPDs 
•Compared to Natural Mating
 Artificial Insemination vs..
Natural Mating

Pros Cons
­  More Equipment Required
- More Genetic Diversity
­ Heat Watch Required
- Don’t Have To Maintain A
Bull ­ Experienced A.I. Technician
- More Controlled Breeding ­  More Labor Intensive
Season
­  More Time Consuming
- More Cost Effective
- More Hygienic
- Easier To Determine
Calving Date
 Take out a Piece of Paper

■ Quiz
– 1. What are the main structures of the Male Reproductive Tract?
» List at least 4

– 2. What are the advantages of Artificial Insemination?

» List at least 3
 What is the function of the
female?

■ contribute 1/2 chromosomes

■ care for young in uterus and after birth until
weaning
 What are the Female
Reproductive Organs?

■ Vulva - exterior portion of reproductive

tract
– provides visual signs of heat
■ Vagina - between vulva & cervix
– Cows & Ewes: semen is deposited here
– Mares & Sows: semen is deposited in the cervix
 What are the Female
Reproductive Organs?

■ Cervix - "Mouth of the womb"

– opening into uterus
– at birth cervix stretches to allow baby to pass
– during pregnancy cervix becomes blocked with
a mucous plug to prevent infection
 What are the Female
Reproductive Organs?

■ Uterine Horns - two branches of uterus

■ Fallopian Tube - uterine horn becomes a
small tube
– Site of fertilization
– lined with cilia which aid in egg migration
 Ovaries

■ located at end of fallopian tubes

■ possesses large number of eggs in all stages of
development
■ this is all the eggs she will ever have, unlike the
male
■ very few eggs reach maturity
■ if not fertilized, the egg is reabsorbed by the body
 Reproduction in Males

■ After sexual maturity, sperm production is

continuous
■ Testosterone is responsible for:
– growth, development & activity of accessory
glands
– survival of spermatozoa
– secondary sex characteristics:male voice, sex
drive
 Reproduction in Males

■ Semen - collective term for all fluid

ejaculated
■ sperm and fluid from accessory glands
 Reproduction in Females

■ Farm animals reach sexual maturity at 4

months (sow) to 24 months (mare), then
❶ Female comes in heat (estrus)
❷ Egg released by ovary
❸ Egg travels down tube until fertilized by
sperm
■ Estrogen - female hormone which regulates
estrus
 What does "in heat" mean?

■ Heat is the time when a female is receptive

to the male and will allow breeding to take
place
■ Heat is actually divided into 4 phases of the
cycle.
 Estrous Cycle:

 Proestrus: ovary is about to release an egg

 Estrus: female receptivity
 Metestrus: uterus prepares for pregnancy
 fertilized egg attaches to uterus
 Diestrus: longest period of cycle
– inactive
 Estrous Cycles stop after conception, and
begin soon after Parturition (birth)
Females also show external signs of
"Heat"

■ aggressive behavior
■ swelling and/or color change of vulva
 Beef (Bovine) Terms

■ A Mature Male is called a:

Bull
■ A Mature Female is called a:
Cow
■ The act of Giving Birth is called:
Calving
■ A Castrated Male is called a:
Steer
■ An Immature Female is called a:
Heifer
 Pig (Porcine) Terms

■ What do you call a mature male hog?

Boar
■ What do you call a mature female hog?
Sow
■ What do you call the act of giving birth?
Farrowing
■ What do you call a castrated male hog?
Barrow
■ What do you call an young female hog?
Gilt
 Poultry (Ovine) Terms

■ What do you call a mature male?

Rooster
■ What do you call a mature female?
Hen
■ What do you call a young female?
Pullet
■ What do you call a castrated male?
Capon
 Horse (Equine) Terms

■ What do you call a mature male horse?

Stallion
■ What do you call a mature female horse?
Mare
■ What do you call a castrated male horse?
Gelding
■ What do you call a young horse?
Foal or Colt
■ What do you call an immature female horse?
Filly
■ What do you call the act of giving birth for horses?
Foaling
Any questions?