The Bull Breeding Soundness Examination and Its Application in the Production Setting

E Heath King; Richard M Hopper

doi:10.1016/j.cvfa.2023.08.001

The Bull Breeding Soundness Examination and Its Application in the Production Setting

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2024 Mar;40(1):19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2023.08.001.

Authors

E Heath King¹, Richard M Hopper²

Affiliations

¹ Theriogenology, Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, 240 Wise Center Drive, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
² Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. Electronic address: richardhopperdvm@gmail.com.

PMID: 38245355
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2023.08.001

Abstract

breeding soundness for several reasons and at several times during their life span. These include before sale for the reason of affirming their sale ability or before a breeding season to determine their readiness for breeding. Bulls may also be evaluated for diagnostic purposes. The breeding soundness examination (BSE) is universally promoted as an important management tool, but there continues to be a level of inconsistency in its performance. A complete bull BSE consists of a thorough physical examination including internal and external reproductive tract, measurement of the circumference of the scrotum and evaluation of individual sperm motility and morphology.

Keywords: BSE; Bull; Production systems; Soundness; Sperm morphology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cattle
Male
Physical Examination
Scrotum / anatomy & histology
Seasons
Sperm Motility*
Spermatozoa*