Animal Breeding and Infertility (Veterinary Health Series) [Hardcover]

This new book in Blackwell's Veterinary Health Series provides up-to-date source of information on reproduction and infertility of farm livestock and horses, taking a practical, problem-orientated approach. It should be of particular interest to veterinarians, animal scientists working in the field of reproduction, and students of veterinary medicine and agriculture. Its 9 chapters are contributed by 10 authors. The opening chapter, which is entitled "Genetic considerations in animal breeding", summarises quantitative genetic considerations and their application in genetic improvement. This is followed by a chapter on cytogenetics, and another on reproductive endocrinology and pharmacology. The next 5 chapters cover breeding and infertility in cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep, and the final chapter, on biotechnology in animal breeding, deals mainly with embryo technologies, embryo stem cell manipulation, gene transfer and the use of transgenic livestock. There is a subject index.

Recommended reading for all undergraduate vets and agriculturalists. The chapter on 'Genetics in Animal Breeding' provides 'switched-on' farmers with insight into methods of identification of good breeding stock and choice of breeding method. The Cytogenetics chapter delves into study of chromosomes. The Biotechnology chapter deals with the science sperm sexing, embryo transfer and gene mapping. The editor, Dr Meredithis very much a 'farmer's man' and inevitably much of his contribution majors on diseases associated with infertility - how to avoid reproductive diseases and what to do in the event of outbreaks. Useful simple check lists such as: Errors in oestrus detection, Sources of estrus detection problems, Techniques for saving piglets, Failure to farrow, Seasonal infertility, Bacterial infection of genital tracts. Information is written in an easily understood form and is sufficiently convincing to encourage a book-shelf referral rather than a panic attack on the medicine 'fridge' during testing times.

This is a new addition to the Veterinary Health Series from Blackwells . Edited by Michael J. Meredith, the book provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of reproduction in farm animals and horses. Each chapter is dealt with by a subject specialist and takes a problem -orientated approach to issues such as infertility, diseases, and breeding management. Information is given in table form and text, with a clear, attractive layout making the book readily accessible. Suited to veterinary surgeons, specialist breeders and students as a reference book on a wide range of issues, Animal Breeding and Infertility is an excellent source of information on this diverse subject.

This new addition to the Veterinary Health Series provides comprehensive and up–to–date coverage of breeding and fertility in animals from both temperate and tropical environments. Taking a practical, problem–oriented approach to the theory and practice of animal breeding and infertility, it deals systematically with the typical approaches and problems encountered in the treatment of cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep in individual chapters, written by professionals in the field

Dr. Meredith is the Course Director for Animal Breeding, Infertility and Obstetrics in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge. He is a registered Specialist in Veterinary Reproduction with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and has advised, researched and taught in this field for more than twenty years.

GENETIC CONSIDERATIONS IN ANIMAL BREEDING sub-sections:

The aims of animal breeding

Methods of identification of the best breeding stock

Choice of breeding method

Chapter summary and future prospects in animal breeding

CYTOGENETICS (chromosome analysis) sub-sections:

Methods of chromosome examination

Chromosome identification

Types of chromosome abnormalities

Chromosome abnormalities in domestic animals

REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY sub-sections:

Introduction

Hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad interactions

The male

The non-pregnant female

The pregnant female

Postpartum period

A final word of warning!

CATTLE BREEDING AND INFERTILITY sub-sections:

Reproductive record systems

Examination of the female reproductive tract

Examination of the bull

The physiology and pathology of puberty

The oestrous cycle

Pharmacological regulation of the oestrous cycle

Mating

Pregnancy

Parturition

The postpartum period

Investigation of the individual infertile cow

GOAT BREEDING AND INFERTILITY sub-sections:

Breeding systems

Puberty

Selection of breeding animals

Management of breeding animals

Planning a breeding programme

Oestrus

Mating behaviour

Mating supervision

Pregnancy

Pregnancy diagnosis

Prenatal losses

Parturition

Puerperium

Neonates

Breeding records

Breeding performance

Clinical examination of the male

Clinical examination of the female

Infertility of individual females

Infertility of individual males

Group infertility

EQUINE FERTILITY AND INFERTILITY sub-sections:

The non-pregnant mare

The pregnant mare

The barren mare

Early embryonic /fetal death

Abortion

Venereal diseases of stallions and mares

The stallion

Artificial insemination

Embryo transfer

Drug appendix

PIG BREEDING AND INFERTILITY sub-sections:

Reproductive Physiology

Puberty

Oestrus and Ovulation

Mating & Conception

Pregnancy

Parturition

Lactation and weaning

MANAGEMENT OF BREEDING

Gilts

Detection of oestrus

Boars

Conception

Pregnancy

Farrowing

Care of newborn piglets

Lactation

Weaning

Planning A Breeding Programme

Batch breeding

Control of breeding

Breeding Performance

Recording performance

Monitoring performance

Improving performance

Clinical examination of boars

Clinical examination of females

Breeding Problems

General approach

Delayed puberty

Dyspareunia

Service success rate problems

Vulval discharges

Abortion

Low total piglets born per litter

Mummification of fetuses

Stillbirths

Post-weaning anoestrus

Boar infertility

SPECIFIC DISEASES

Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD)

Brucellosis

Encephalomyocarditis virus infection (EMCV)

Japanese encephalitis (JE)

Leptospirosis

Mycotoxicosis

Porcine enteroviruses

Porcine parvovirus (PPV)

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)

Pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease)

SMEDI syndrome

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SHEEP BREEDING AND INFERTILITY sub-sections:

Systems of sheep production

Selection of breeding stock

Puberty

The management of breeding animals

The breeding season

Planning a breeding programme

Artificial insemination

Pregnancy

Abortion

Parturition

Puerperium

Neonates

Breeding records

Breeding performance

Clinical examination of the breeding animal

Infertility problems

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN ANIMAL BREEDING by D. Powell, Ph.D. & I. Wilmut, Ph.D. Dr. Wilmut is famous for his work on genetic engineering, particularly the cloning of sheep by nuclear transfer (a technique described in this Chapter).

sub-sections:

Introduction

Breeding strategies

Manipulating cell lineages (includes cloning)

Manipulation of genes

Prospects