Figure 12.6 A well‐designed work area for performing lameness examinations at a custom stud. Note the hydraulic tilt table and footbath in foreground.
Figure 12.7 Assisting in preparation of hoof block application.
Treatment of issues such as foot rot or hairy heel wart may best be treated via footbath or topical therapy. The more stubborn infections may require antibiotics and periodic topical antibiotic bandages. If lameness persists after a few days of therapy, it is always recommended to question the original diagnosis and reinvestigate the problem.
Occasionally, a diffusely swollen limb is observed associated with a joint (most often a tarsus) with accompanying pyrexia, which can signal initiation of septic arthritis secondary to a generalized bacteremia. These are usually consequences of some kind of stress, most often change of feed or feeding methods. Any bull presenting with generalized cellulitis in a limb should be considered a medical emergency. Most bulls are not weight‐bearing and can be difficult to deal with in local settings, so it is often better to refer these cases to a facility capable of handling this kind of care.
Penile Injuries
One of the more common penile injuries observed in the bull stud is preputial laceration/avulsion at the site of the preputial reflection. This injury occurs as a friction “tear” due to misapplication of the AV as it is placed on the bull to collect the semen sample. Most often, the only evidence of injury initially will be drops of blood in the AV or in the ejaculate, or by blood dripping from the preputial orifice. This is to be considered a medical emergency and should be addressed as soon as possible after injury. After a pudendal nerve block and/or local anesthesia, the wound should be debrided with copious lavage of the site. Debridement should be followed by suturing with simple interrupted sutures or by surgical stapling. Bandaging of the orifice to maintain the penis in the sheath, with antibiotics and anti‐inflammatory drugs, will be required for several days. After recovery, the bull should only be collected with an electroejaculator or rested from sexual activity for about four weeks.
Occasional preputial lacerations from self‐trauma may occur. It is not uncommon to see bulls “catch” the prepuce with a dew claw as they start to rise. These may only require antibiotics and topical medication instead of debridement and surgery. Each case should be independently assessed. Occasionally, the injury may scar sufficiently to reduce the diameter of the prepuce and impede full extension of the penis. If this occurs a penile reefing or circumcision may be required in the future.
Gastrointestinal Tract Problems
AICs will need veterinary services to treat a wide variety of gastrointestinal problems. Most are simple ruminal tympanies or bloat, followed by non‐specific and transient diarrheas. Most are thought to be due to mistakes in feeding protocols but on occasion may be caused by changes in gastrointestinal motility brought on by a host of other primary problems. These incidents will respond to systemic treatment of laxatives, oral fluids, and analgesics if warranted. More serious gastrointestinal problems encountered include hemorrhagic bowel disease, perforating abomasal ulcers, intestinal intussusception, and intestinal volvulus. Once diagnosed, these are best referred to those most experienced in dealing with such problems as these bulls will need surgery and intensive aftercare.
Occasionally, an acute disease due to a foreign body may occur in a bull at an AIC. Of course, the penetrating foreign body could have been present for years; such subtle problems should not be overlooked when making a differential list. Advising a custom stud owner on per‐os administration of rumen magnets should be considered when creating entry requirements.
Urinary Tract Problems
Urinary tract problems are rare at stud but do occasionally occur. Initial presentation of a bull with urinary obstruction is much like any other abdominal problem: colic‐like symptoms, kicking at abdomen, elevated heart rate, increased salivation, straining attempts to defecate and urinate, etc. Most often bulls may respond to analgesic therapy along with smooth muscle relaxants and urinary acidification. It is to be remembered that if the urinary obstruction is relieved, there are probably still many calculi left in the bladder. When urinary calculi are involved it is wise to diagnose the type of calculi present and adjust therapy accordingly, maintaining the bull on acidification until the calculi significantly decrease in a urine sample. In some areas, calculi do not respond to urinary acidification, presenting the clinician with a whole new set of problems. Most bulls that have calculi problems also have an ongoing cystitis requiring bacterial culture and sensitivity testing and prolonged antibiotic therapy.
Summary
Consulting for an AIC can be rewarding both financially and professionally. Many breeders working with an AIC are the elite within their breed and by exposure to the veterinarian through association with the bull stud new client relationships can develop. Consultation services, from disease prevention to improving reproductive efficiency and development, can occur through contacts made with the AIC.
Acknowledgment
The author wishes to acknowledge his mentor Dr. Wallace Cardwell for his countless contributions to the information found in this chapter.
13 Testicular Degeneration
Albert Barth1 and John P. Kastelic2
1 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
2 Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Introduction
Testicular degeneration may be temporary or permanent; temporary degeneration is much more common and, with removal of underlying cause, testis structure and function often recover. It may be difficult to distinguish between degeneration and a severe disturbance of spermatogenesis, with a marked decline in semen quality. The term “degeneration” is somewhat arbitrary, but usually implies reduction in scrotal circumference, testes may be soft, and sperm quality is poor (usually <20% morphologically normal). With temporary degeneration, there is loss of germinal cell layers near the lumen in many or all seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells and spermatogonia, which are more resistant to damage, are likely to be retained and if the cause of degeneration is removed, tubules are repopulated with spermatocytes and spermatids, restoring testis size and semen quality. Advanced degenerative changes causing permanent damage include spermiostasis, tubular mineralization, granuloma formation, thickened basement membranes, and fibrosis in focal or diffuse areas of testicular parenchyma.
Pathogenesis
Factors involved in pathogenesis of testicular degeneration include abnormal testicular thermoregulation, nutritional excess
