Abstract
In this workshop Alice Miller discussed fertility testing in dairy and beef bulls, sharing practical tips and advice for practitioners. How to prepare the equipment to get the best results, and ensure you can rely on your findings by avoiding common artefacts was covered. Common morphological abnormalities and what they mean were discussed, helping the veterinarian with final assessment and diagnosis.
This workshop covered specific advice around bull handling, semen handling and evaluation techniques, providing tips on how to avoid artefacts in samples, so that veterinarians are able to trust their results.
All measures should be taken to ensure that the sample seen down the microscope is a representative biopsy of what would be ejaculated during natural service. Cold shock is the most common and challenging hurdle to overcome, but preparation and use of suitable equipment can help avoid premature death and artificially low motility of cells. Lab equipment should be set up before the bull examination to allow the kit to reach the optimum temperature of approximately 37°C. For some kit it depends on what the manufacturer recommends.
Before arrival on farm, check there is a suitable electrical supply to set up all equipment. The lab area should be under cover and as close to the crush as possible.
Useful kit for conducting an examination includes:
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