FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL

SCIENCES AND ALLIED

INDUSTRIES
TOPIC – Reproduction in cattle and poultry

1. Male Reproductive System (Bull)

The male reproductive organs produce the male gametes,the spermatozoans.

These are introduced into female reproductive system, where they fuse with the sperm
to form zygote.
The reproductive system(bull) iscompsed of the following parts;
i). Testes
ii). Epididymis
iii). Sperm ducts
iv). Accessory glands(Seminal vesicles and prostrate glands)
v). Penis

The testis:

 There are two testes hanging loosely between hind legs.

 Enclosed by loose skin (scrotum)scrotum regulate temperature of testis for

optimum production of sperms.

 Produce spermatozoa(sperms)which are stored in coiled tube called epididymis.

Epididymis: Storage of spermatozoa.

Sperm ducts:

 Conveys sperm from the testis and urine through the penis.

 sphincter muscles contract to allow each to pass separetly.

Seminal vesicles produce fluid called semen. Semen carries sperms out of penis in
fluid form.
Semen contains nutrients to the spermatozoan.

Prostate gland -produce fluid that neutralize the acidic effects of urine in the urethra
preventing death of sperms.

Accessory glands: Include seminal vesicles cowpers gland and prostate

gland. Urethra: Conveys urine and semen.One sperm fertlizes ovum

Penis:

Surrounded by a sheath which is an extension of skin.

It introduces sperms into the vagina of a cow through the vulva during mating.

It is a copulatory organ, also used for urination.

2. The Female Reproductive System(Cow)

the reproductive systemm of a cow is composed of;

i). Ovaries
ii). Fallopian tubes
iii). Vagina
iv). Vulva
v). Uterus
Ovaries and fallopian tubes(oviduct)

Two ovaries located in abdomen, left and right. Produce ova/eggs and hormones
which control sexual cycle. Oestrogen produced by graafian follicle inside ovary induces
oestrus i.e. Heat period so that the cow shows signs of heat. The hormone oestrogen is
produced under the influence of other hormone called the Follicle stimulating hormone.

After every 21 days the ovary releases a mature ovum and the cow comes on
heat. The ovum travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus.

The release and movement of the ovum down to the uterus is called ovulation. If
mating is done at this time, fertilization will take place.
The fertilized egg implants itself onto the endometrium(walls of uterus)and develops into
foetus.

Fallopian tubes:

Fertilization takes place here. Also a passage for the egg from the ovary to the uterus.

The uterus:

Implantation takes place here and also embryo develops here.

The cervix of the uterus: Closes the uterus.

The vagina and Vulva:

Vulva is the external opening of female reproductive system.

It allows mating to take place so that sperms are deposited into the vagina.

The foetus and urine are removed through the vulva.

Pregnancy
is period between fertilization of ova and the expulsion of the foetus through the
vulva. Also called gestation period. In cattle gestation period is 270-285 days. Ends
with the birth of a calf. .
The reproductive tract undergoes a period of rest during which it is repaired and returns
to normal. During pregnancy, hormone called progesterone is produced by the
placenta to maintain the foetus in the uterus.

Animal Length of days

Cow 270-285 Days
Sow 113-117
Ewe/Goat 150
Rabbit 28-32

Parturition

Act of giving birth called parturition. This time the foetus expelled through the birth
canal.

When an animal is about to give birth, it shows signs;-

 Distended udder which produces thick milky fluid called colostrums.

 Swollen vulva producing thick mucus like discharge.

 Loose and slackened pelvic girdle.

 Visible pin bones.

 General restlessness.

Animal parturates within 2-3 hours after this signs. The correct presentation is with the
front feet first ,and the head outstretched and resting in between the feet.
Any other presentation called mal-presentation or breech presentation and
 requires assistance.

3. Reproductive system of poultry

The avian reproductive system is heterosexual and requires both a male
and a female, each to contribute half of the genetic constitution of the offspring. The
male contributes his half by way of the sperm produced by the testes and carried in
the semen. The female contributes hers in the ovum carried by the egg yolk
produced by the ovary. The ovum is often referred to as
the blastodisc, blastoderm or germ disc. After release from the follicle on the
ovary, the yolk moves into the oviduct where it is fertilised and has added to it the
albumen, shell membranes and shell.

Male reproductive system

The male reproductive organs in the domestic fowl consist of two testes, each
with a deferent duct that leads from the testes to the cloaca. Fowls do not have a
penis such as is found in other animals. The testes are bean shaped bodies located
against the backbone at the front of the kidney. Their size is not constant and they
become larger when the birds are actively mating. The left testes is often larger than
the right. On the inside of each is a small, flattened area that is believed to
correspond to the epididymis of mammals. The deferent duct starts at this flattened
area.

The urinary and reproductive organs of the male chicken

Deferent duct
The deferent duct transports the sperm from the testes where they are formed
to the cloaca from which they enter the oviduct of the female when mating. The
deferent duct enters a small pimple-like structure in the cloaca. This structure
equates to the mammalian penis and is much larger in ducks to form a penis like
organ. The deferent duct is quite narrow at first but widens as it approaches the
cloaca.
Testes and sperm
In the testes very twisted tubes called seminiferous tubules are found. It is in
these tubules that a special process of cell division called meiosis and
transformation produces the sperm. The sperm carry half of the total chromosomes
required to produce an embryo. The mother provides the other half. One cubic
millimetre of the fluid called semen produced by the male contains on average 3-5
million sperm. Under a microscope the sperm of the fowl will be seen to have a long
pointed head with a long tail. The testes also produce hormones
called androgens that influence the development of what are called secondary sex
characteristics such as comb growth and condition, male behaviour and mating.
Female reproductive system
The female reproductive system in the domestic fowl consists of the ovary
and the accompanying oviduct. While the female embryo in chicken has two sets of
reproductive organs, only one of these, the left survives and reaches maturity to
produce eggs. The single surviving ovary is located in the laying hen just in front of
the kidneys in the abdominal cavity and is firmly attached to the wall of the cavity.
The ovary is well endowed with blood vessels to ensure there is no hindrance to the
transport of nutrients to the developing yolk.
Ovary
The ovary consists of a mass of yellowish, rounded objects called follicles,
each containing an ovum or yolk. There are many such follicles but only a small
number in comparison, will ever reach maturity to produce an egg. When the hen is
in lay the ovary will be active. The size of the follicles will vary from very small to
those approaching the normal yolk size in the egg which can be up to 40 millimetres
in diameter, and will contain a fully matured yolk ready for release into the oviduct.
It is possible to find five stages of development in the active ovary:
1. Primary follicles – follicles that have not yet commenced to grow
2. Growing follicles
3. Mature follicles – follicles ready or nearly so for release
4. Discharged follicles – where the yolk has just been released
5. Atretic follicles – those from which the yolk has been released some time ago

Yolk
It takes approximately 10 days for a yolk to develop from the very small to the
normal size found in eggs and during this time it is contained in the follicle. The
follicle acts as a sack during this period of development supplying it with the
nutrients required for its growth. When a mature follicle is examined an elongated
area virtually free of blood vessels will be found on the distal surface of it. This area,
called the stigma, is where the follicle normally splits to release the yolk into the
oviduct. If, for some reason, the follicle splits at other than the stigma, the numerous
blood vessels that rupture will result in free blood being found in the egg i.e. a blood
spot will form.

Oviduct
The function of the oviduct is to produce the albumen, shell membranes and
the shell around the yolk to complete
Diagram of the oviduct
the egg. It is a long tube well supplied with blood via numerous blood vessels. There
are many glands found in its walls that produce the albumen, the shell membranes
and the shell. In the non-layer the oviduct is quite short and small in diameter.
However, once the reproductive system becomes active, it grows to a length of 70-
80 centimetres with a variable diameter depending on the function of the section
being examined.
The oviduct consists of five distinct parts or sections, each having different functions:
1. Infundibulum (or funnel): located adjacent to the ovary and with long segments
enclosing the ovary, the infundibulum collects the yolk after its release from the
follicle as a funnel and directs it into the oviduct. This section has very thin walls
and is 6-9 centimetres long. Fertilisation of the ovum by the male sperm occurs
here.
2. Ampulla or magnum: at approximately 40 centimetres long it secretes more
than 40% of the albumen.
3. Isthmus: at about 12 centimetres in length, it secretes some albumen and the
shell membranes.
4. Uterus or shell gland: at approximately 12 centimetres in length it secretes
about 40% of the albumen and the egg’s shell.
5. Vagina: at approximately 12 centimetres in length, it secretes the egg’s outer
cuticle and possibly the shell pigment.

Androgen, oestrogen and progesterone

In addition to the production of eggs, the female reproductive system also
produces hormones that aid in the control of body functions. These include
androgen, oestrogen and progesterone. Androgen causes comb growth and
condition, and has a function in the formation of albumen. Oestrogen causes the
growth of the female plumage, mating and nesting behaviour, oviduct development
together with the nutrient supply to the ovary/oviduct for egg formation.
Progesterone, with androgen, is involved in the production of albumen and the
carriage of the message to the pituitary gland to release luteinising hormone.
The female reproductive system remains dormant in the young chicken and
growing pullet until she reaches the age when these organs start to prepare for the
normal production of eggs. One of the first signs of her developing maturity is the
change in the comb development. This organ starts to grow and to take on a vivid
red hue as the hormones produced by the now awakening ovary start to have an
effect