Getting Ready for Laboratory

There are a number of videos that you should review and understand before coming to class.

1. Refresh your your memory about female anatomy and if needed, review videos on female anatomy in the cow, sow and mare. In the lab during the fall semester we will focus on the cow and in the spring semester the mare and do the sow next week. Information from these videos may appear in the lab exam/lab quizzes.
   
   
2. Palpation specific to semester
   1. Fall semester - As you will be doing palpation on tracts and in animals this week, view the video on palpation in the non-pregnant cow reproductive tracts. Next review the material on procedures for bovine rectal palpation. Rectal palpation is used in female bovines to access reproductive status and during artificial insemination.
   2. In the mare you will be examining the cervix via a vaginal approach with a speculum and then passing a catheter throught the cervix.
      Here are specific web pages that cover this area:
      • External Genitalia
      • Washing and preparation of mare and vulva
      • Vaginal and cervical exam
        
        
3. There are different approaches and devices for artificial insemination (AI) in the various farm animal species. Review the material below paying particular attention to the cow and pig which we inseminate live animals either this week or next.
   • Videos
   • Website information on the pig, cow and mare.
     
     
4. Before coming to lab, remove rings and watches from the hand you intend to use for palpation. Also be sure to cut your finger nails on the palpation hand as well. We will have a pair of nail clippers in lab in case you forget this requirement.

    

Questions to answer (Some may require additional research on your part to answer):

1. What is the function of the spiral at the end of the pig catheter?
2. What is the likely advantage of using a cattle catheter with a spiral lock for the sheath over one which has an O-ring lock?
3. Cattle catheters are covered with a hard plastic sheath and then often an additional soft plastic sheath. What do you think is the purpose for having the second soft plastic sheath?
4. Why do some of the equine catheters have a soft plastic bulb at the end?
5. What is the volume of inseminate in the cow, pig and mare and how is the equipment different to accommodate these volume differences?