As you go through the slides, READ and RE-READ information to help your understanding.

Take notes on IMPORTANT information, functions, and items that meet class objectives. (FYI slides are just that FYI)

When you see a STOP slide, stop and complete the check in.

When you see an unfamiliar word, ASK or look it up.

ASK if you have questions.

Function of the female reproduction system: Produce an fertile egg Produce hormones Reset the ovulation cycle Transport the egg and sperm to the site of

fertilization House, protect, and grow a fetus and

placenta Birthing of the fetus

Estrous vs. Estrus Estrous: the entire cycle that occur

between when the animal goes into heat and ovulation.

Estrus: the period of standing heat. The female is sexually receptive to the male.

Ovulation: Occurs when the egg is released from the follicle to be fertilized.

Oocyte = egg

Vulva Vagina Cervix UterusOviducts &

Infundibulum Ovaries Corpus Luteum Follicles & Eggs Look at this picture & predict

structure function

WHAT: “Entranceway” of the female

reproductive tract Only part visible from the outside

WHY: Swells and becomes reddish-pink during

estrus▪ Response due to estrogen

Allows for penetration and insertion to reproductive tract

WHAT : flattened tube; passage between the cervix and the vulva

WHY : 1. Site of semen deposition during

natural insemination 2. Used as passageway for

instruments during AI 3. Produces mucus (lubricant)

- flushes out irritants and infectious agents

-common site of infection

Vagina Species Differences:▪ Only the bull and ram

will deposit sperm here▪ Boar and Stallion

deposit sperm in the cervix at the opening of the uterus

Vulva:▪ Left and Right Labia: 1st

defense against bacteria entering the reproductive tract

Left Labia

Right Labia

Anus

WHAT: the muscular “valve” or “control gate” between the uterus and the vagina

Made of muscular folds that slow down invading materials

These folds have ‘dead ends’ that trap foreign substances

WHY: Completely closed except during estrus and parturition (birthing) to prevent foreign substances/infection.

Opens during estrus/parturition to allow for young/sperm

During pregnancy, a hard mucus plug “glues” it shut

Forms a VERY tight barrier between itself and the uterus

Species Differences in the Shape of the Cervix: Cow, Ewe, Nanny: Annular Rings Sow: Corkscrew Shape Mare: Longitudinal Folds

Species Differences between Males: Stallion and Boar will deposit sperm here at the

opening of the cervix Ram and Bull deposit sperm in the vagina

Annular Rings

Annular rings

UTERUS WHAT: Womb Muscular, capable of “enormous expansion” Has to support up to 80 kg / 177 lbs of

weight UTERUS WHY: Where fetus grows

Uterine Horns WHAT: The extensions on either

side of the uterus ▪ Curl like ram horns

Uterine Horns WHY: Connect to Oviducts

Simplex▪ Uterine body has NO uterine horns▪ Example: primates and humans

Duplex▪ Two cervices that form into two uterine bodies and two

uterine horns▪ Example: marsupials and rabbits

Bicornuate▪ Two uterine horns▪ Depending on the species will either have poorly

developed uterine horns or highly developed horns▪ Development depends on litter size▪ Larger the litters the longer and more developed the uterine horns▪ Smaller the litters the shorter and less developed the uterine horns

▪ Example: ALL Livestock▪ Sow, Bitch, Queen: Highly Developed Uterine Horns▪ Cow, Ewe, Mare: Poorly Developed Uterine horns

Uterine Horn

OviductCervix

Uterine Body

WHAT: tubes that carry eggs from ovaries to uterus

Kept shut tight except during ovulation and insemination

WHY: Where fertilization occurs Egg moved from the ovaries down the oviduct

by cilia (microscopic hairs) Motile sperm meet the egg in the upper part of

the oviduct Newly formed zygote stays in the oviduct 3-4

days This time is needed for the uterus to prepare

itself

WHAT: Latin for “funnel” The end projection of the oviducts that

surrounds, but does not connect to, the ovaries

WHY: “Funnels” eggs from ovaries into oviduct.

WHAT: Small walnut-shaped ovals 4-6 cm / 2-3

inches in length Contain thousands of ova (plural of

ovum, or egg cell)▪ These were created before the birth of the

cow▪ Has a finite supply, as do human females

WHY: Produce a mature ovum (oocyte) (egg)

every 21 days Produce/secrete hormones that:▪ Control growth of egg▪ Change cow’s behavior (gets her “in the

mood”)▪ Prepare reproductive tract for pregnancy▪ Start parturition process (birthing)▪ Prepare mammary glands for lactation

Follicles – start as cavities (holes) on the ovary

An egg moves to this cavity. It is surrounded by support cells and

nutritive substances All these things together are the

follicle

The cells that remain in the follicle after the egg is ovulated (expelled into the oviduct) become the corpus luteum (CL)

Corpus luteum translated = yellow body

Produces progesterone, a hormone which sustains the pregnancy (allows pregnancy to “progress”)

Occurs regardless of fertilization

Female gamete (reproductive cell)Haploid - half the number of normal

chromosomes Present prior to birth, but maturation

occurs at puberty Multiple eggs develop during a cycle,

but only one matures

Female Reproduction video

What is a hormone? Definition: a chemical messenger that

travels to specific organs and prompts a specific response from the organ

Characteristics of Hormones:▪ Low amounts are secreted

Important Hormones: (get down each & function) ▪ Estrogen▪ Progesterone▪ Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)▪ Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Estrogen - Produced by: Ovary (Follicle)▪ Regulate reproductive cycling▪ Behavioral displays during estrus

Progesterone - Produced By: Ovary (Corpus Luteum)▪ Essential for the maintenance of pregnancy

Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - Produced by: Anterior Pituitary in the brain▪ Causes follicular growth in the ovary

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) - Produced by: Anterior Pituitary in the brain▪ Responsible for causing ovulation▪ Stimulating the Corpus Luteum(Follicle stage)

to secrete progesterone

Estrous: the entire cycle that occur between when the animal goes into heat and ovulation.

Estrus: the period of standing heat. The female is sexually receptive to the male.

Luteal Phase: Diestrus:▪ Peak Progesterone Production

Proestrus▪ Formation of follicles

Follicular Phase: Estrus▪ Sexual receptivity▪ Peak Estrogen secretion

Metestrus▪ Corpus Luteum Formation

P4 = ProgesteroneE2 = Estrogen

Vulva: swollen due to estrogen, covered in mucus Vagina: excess mucus production Cervix: dilates to allow acceptance of semen

(otherwise locked shut with hardened mucus to prevent infection)

Oviducts: open to allow ovulation, fertilization Ovaries: ovulation – release of the follicle (egg and

some supporting cells) from the ovary number of young that a female can produce at one time is

determined by how many eggs are released during ovulation

ovulation usually occurs at the end of a heat/estrus

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THESE !

Closed Cervix – cervix does not open to allow fert.

Retained Placenta – afterbirth stays in cow Damaged Oviduct (due to excess

palpation) Freemartins – heifer exposed to male

hormones Cystic ovaries – growth/swelling of ovaries Infection – varies Anovulation – lack of ovulation Metritis – inflammation of lining of the

uterus

A

B

C D

F

E

Female Reproductive System in Poultry

The functional parts of the female poultry reproductive tract includes one ovary, an oviduct, and the cloaca.

Female Poultry Reproductive Tract

Mature female poultry have only one functional ovary; the right ovary and oviduct degenerate and cease functioning before the bird reaches sexual maturity.

The ovary appears as a cluster of tiny, gray balls that are the oocytes.

At maturity, the ovary contains up to 4,000 tiny oocytes from which ovum may develop over time.

An ovum develops by collecting lipid particles from the blood to form the yolk.

The yolk contains fat for energy and some protein and other nutrients needed by the developing embryo, as well as, a small white dot called the blastodisc that contains the genetic information supplied by the female.

When mature, the yolk is released by the follicle and engulfed by the infundibulum.

The oviduct is about 25 inches long and consists of five parts: the infundibulum, the magnum, the isthmus, the uterus, and the vagina.

Infundibulum – funnel-like part of the oviduct that receives the yolk and is the site of fertilization.

Magnum – second part of the oviduct that secretes the thick white or albumen.

Isthmus – third part of the oviduct that adds the two shell membranes.

Uterus – the fourth part of the oviduct that secretes the thin white, the shell, and the shell pigment.

Vagina – the last part of the oviduct that holds the egg until it is laid.

From the oviduct, the egg passes to the cloaca and then out of the body through the vent at the time of laying.

In addition to producing ova, the ovary produces the female sex hormone, estrogen, and the hormone androgen.

The androgen hormone stimulates comb growth and works with other hormones in egg production.

In poultry, the functions of estrogen include:

• stimulating the growth of the oviduct,

• increasing the size of the cloaca during egg laying,

• modifying feather shape and pigmentation of the female, and

• increasing the level of fat, phosphorus, and calcium in the blood.

Length of the estrus cycle is species specific Cattle 18 – 24 days Swine 18 – 24 days Sheep 14 – 20 days Horses 16 – 30 days Goats 15 – 24 days Dogs 3 ½ - 13 months Cats 14 – 21 days

Estrus by species Cattle – 14 hrs Swine – 2-3 days Sheep – 30-35 hrs Horses – 6 days Goats – 42 hrs Dogs – 6-12 days Cats – 6-7 days

Stands to be mountedFrequent urinationGeneral nervousness

BE SURE YOU KNOW THIS

Cattle – 283Swine – 113Sheep – 150Horses – 336Goats – 151

CONVERT THESE TO MONTHS – BE SURE YOU KNOW THEM!

Initiated by hormones secreted by the offspring.

Oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland travels to the muscles of the uterus to cause contractions.

Pressure against the cervix will neurologically message the pituitary.

Fluids from the fetal membranes will lubricate the cervix and vagina for ease of offspring passage.

The final phase of parturition is the expulsion of the fetal membranes or afterbirth.

Hormone ReferenceFemale Organ ReferenceWaterford PowerPoint Template