Читать книгу Bovine Reproduction - Группа авторов - Страница 111

All BBSE standards recommend performing a physical reproductive examination. There is general agreement across the regions that it should involve the following:

1 Transrectal palpation of the accessory sex glands, with emphasis on assessing the vesicular glands.

2 Examination of the sheath, with some standards providing the non‐compulsory option of assigning a sheath score.

3 Palpation or ideally visualization of the penis.

4 Palpation of the scrotum and assessment of the scrotal cleft.

5 Palpation of the testes, epididymides, and scrotal cords.

6 Measurement of SC.

Transrectal palpation of the accessory sex glands is a compulsory part of the BBSE in all regions evaluated. While all structures are evaluated, the clear emphasis is on assessing the vesicular glands, as they most commonly have pathology and their condition is considered to reflect pathology that may be present in other parts of the tubular tract. None of the standards provided clear guidelines on what level of pathology of the seminal vesicles would result in the requirement for reassessment or a fail. The general implication from all regions was that the presence of any of the following would mean the bull would not meet the requirements for the reproductive physical examination: palpable, acute infection; a high concentration of neutrophils in the semen; or enlarged seminal vesicles in conjunction with sperm morphology defects consistent with inflammatory changes to the tubular tract. One area that was not clear in some of the guidelines was what was meant by a “high concentration of neutrophils.”

Evaluation of the sheath is recognized as a compulsory part of a BBSE and bull selection in all regions except the BCVA [1022–26]. In most regions, failure of the bull in this aspect is based on the veterinarian's opinion of the presence of pathology. In the ACV and SFT systems, a non‐compulsory scoring system is utilized to assist veterinarians with pass/fail and genetic selection decisions, but the provision of a sheath score is not considered an essential aspect of the BBSE in any region. The ACV sheath‐scoring system has developed over the past 20 years, with current recommendations providing a score on a scale of one to five. Where a score of one represents a small sheath and five represents a large pendulous sheath [23]. There is a plan to upgrade the ACV scoring system [27], but there is still conjecture regarding the relevance of including factors in the scoring system such as the presence of preputial eversion.

There was no variation in the regional recommendations for the assessment and interpretation of penile defects. All standards recommended visualization of the penis during the assessment. Visualization was ideally at electroejaculation or natural service but could at a minimum be during rectal massage. The South African and ACV systems provide the option of providing a BBSE report with accompanying comments in situations where the penis can only be palpated through the sheath. But the SFT system does not allow a classification of the bull as Satisfactory unless the penis has been visualized.