Livestock Management RANCHING
Cattle Operating Systems: Reproduction
By Robert Fears T
HE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF A COW IS THE FOURTH IN our series on cattle anatomy. The fi rst 2 articles addressed the digestive system that allows the
cow to derive her nutrients from forages and the skel- etal system that enables her to be productive through travel, breeding, and calving. The third article dealt with the muscle system that produces motion, provides body stabilization, generates heat and produces beef. The reproductive system is the factory that produces income for the cattleman. In addition to the other functioning systems of a
cow, the producer needs to know how the reproduction system works. An understanding of the reproduction system is important for detecting heat, artifi cial in- semination, palpation and assistance in diffi cult calv- ing. Failure to understand how the system functions could result in a reduced calf crop and/or the loss of a good cow. Most of the information in this article is taken
from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Bulletin B-1077, “Determining Pregnancy in Cattle,” written by Bruce Carpenter and L.R. Sprott. The bulletin can be obtained at
agrilifebookstore.org. Click on Browse the Shelves and then on Beef Cattle.
64 The Cattleman June 2013
Reproductive system components Beginning at the rear of a cow, the external portion of
the reproductive tract is the vulva. It can be recognized by 2 prominent lips. Size of the vulva varies with the animal’s age and breed. Brahman-infl uenced females usually have a larger vulva than do the English and continental breeds. Moving inward, the second component of the repro-
ductive tract is the vagina. The vagina is thin-walled and not easily felt during palpation. The urinary blad- der is located underneath the vagina. During urination, the bladder empties through a small opening on the vagina fl oor. The opening is called the urethral orifi ce. Urine exits the cow’s body through the vulva. The second portion of the reproductive tract is the
cervix, a thick-walled structure attached to the va- gina. It is comprised of connective tissue which feels like gristle. Internal walls of the cervix are folded and protrude toward the exterior of the reproductive tract. These internal folds are often referred to as cervical rings. The protrusion back into the vagina is referred to as the cervical os. Surfaces of the cervical rings are lined with special
mucus-secreting cells. This clear colored mucus is often seen smeared on a cow’s rump or fl owing out of her
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