Clinical Examination of Farm Animals - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

Clinical Examination of the Male Genital System
Rectum
Body of prostate
gland
Seminal
vesicle
Bladder
Internal iliac
lymph node
Bulbourethral
gland
Ureter
Ampulla
of vas
deferens
Vas
deferens
Figure 11.8 Diagram of the accessory sex
glands palpable per rectum.
Seminal vesicles These flattened, leaf-shaped
structures with irregular surfaces lie on either side of
the anterior part of the pelvic urethra. They are approximately
10 to 15 cm long and 3 to 6 cm wide in
adult bulls, and are readily located by moving the
hand laterally from the pelvic urethra. They are
normally the same size, but one or both may be enlarged
and painful to the touch if they are inflamed or
infected. Problems with the seminal vesicles are relatively
uncommon, but may lead to quantities of
inflammatory cells and other debris in the semen.
Semen In most cases it is essential that clinical examination
of a bull should include semen collection
and evaluation. Semen is normally collected using an
artificial vagina, and the act of collection may influence
both libido and service behaviour. If service
behaviour is known to be normal and the bull is
thought to have a poor libido, it may be advisable to
attempt to collect semen as he mounts the cow for
the first time. If libido is good but details of service
behaviour are unknown, service should be closely
observed first and semen collected later. Once all
parts of the examination are complete the bull’s overall
health and fertility can be reported.
The bull’s environment
This should be observed. In beef herds the bull usually
runs with the cows and heifers he is serving. In
dairy herds he may be confined to a bull pen into
which animals for service are introduced. Details of
the pen, including its height and floor surface,
should be carefully observed to ensure that no adverse
factors might compromise the bull’s ability to
serve. Details of the quality and quantity of his food
and water supply should also be obtained at this
stage.
Presence of a female animal in standing oestrus
This is essential for all the stages of the bull’s examination
except the detailed clinical examination. The
clinician should arrange for such an animal to be
available. In many cases oestrus is induced by
prostaglandin injection to coincide with the pro-
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