Reproduction Services

When it comes to Sheep & Beef reproduction services the farm vets at VetEnt are experts. Current reproduction in cattle and sheep is monitored; poor reproductive performance is identified; a management plan is created to improve reproductive performance in the future. 

Reproduction Services – Beef Herd

For reproduction in beef cows, the following parameters are monitored:

• Body condition scoring
• Pregnancy diagnosis via ultrasound scanning & foetal ageing, manual palpation
• Specific health tests, including magnesium, trace elements, BVD, Campylobacteriosis & Johnes disease

When it comes to bulls, breeding soundness is examined:

• Identification of sire, age and breed.
• Physical examination including internal genitalia.
• Measurement of scrotal circumference.
• Observation of mating - service test.
• Semen collection and evaluation.
• Specific health tests, including BVD, Trichomoniasis, Campylobacteriosis, and Johnes disease.

Having light conditioned cows in beef herds at calving time is the most common cause of poor reproductive performance during the following mating. The impact has been shown to cost an 18% drop in conception rate, 5% less calf survival, a month difference in age at weaning and 45 kg lower calf weight at weaning.

Reproduction Services – Sheep Flock

The following parameters are monitored in ewes:

• Pregnancy diagnosis via ultrasound scanning and foetal ageing, dry, singles, twins, triplets.
• Perinatal lamb autopsies.
• Specific health tests including trace elements (copper, selenium, iodine), metabolic testing, Toxoplasmosis, Campylobacteriosis, and Johnes disease

For rams, the breeding soundness examination includes:

• Annual ram palpation.
• Blood testing - Brucella ovis.
• Semen test & evaluation.
• Ram vasectomy for teasers.

The most common finding from lamb autopsies (done on normal-looking newborn dead lambs) over lambing is that most lambs are born alive and walk around but only a few have milk in their stomach. The lamb starvation syndrome is strongly linked to the body condition score of the ewe when she lambs.

Farms which have subsequently focussed on improving the condition score status of the ewe flock at lambing have reduced lamb wastage up to 10%.