Breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) assesses a bull's reliability and capability for breeding through physical examination and evaluation of semen quality, libido, and freedom from disease. The evaluation has several components: physical exam; examination of external genitalia and reproductive organs; semen evaluation for motility, morphology, and infectious agents; and tests of mating ability and libido. Bulls are classified as satisfactory, deferred, or unsatisfactory breeders based on their scores on factors like scrotal circumference, semen motility, and morphology. Regular BSE can increase pregnancy rates by eliminating less fertile bulls.

2. BSE is the examination conducted on bulls prior
to the breeding season to assess their
reliability and capability as breeding animal.

3. Objectives
• To understand examination of a bull for
breeding soundness evaluation.
• To understand different systems to be
examined and the scoring system.
• To understand grading of bulls based on the
scoring.

4. Indications for BSE
•Pre-Breeding- usually followed 1 to 2 months
prior to the breeding
•Pre-Purchase
•Post-Purchase
•If any questions

6. History
Management:
•Genetic potential of the bull: Dam’s yield/ progeny
yield
• Feed
•Previous Use
•Breeding Behaviour
• fertility records of the bull should be noted:
Medical:
• Vaccinations
• Previous Health Information

7. Breeding Soundness Evaluation
Components
•
1. Physical examination of the animal.
2. Examination of external genitalia.
3. Examination of reproductive organs.
4. Evaluation of semen.
5. Mating ability: some assessment of the bull's
desire (libido) and ability to breed a female in
heat (termed serving capacity)..
6. Assessment of fertility factor in seminal plasma.
7. Other diagnostic tests

8. Appraoach
Restraining: Bulls should be well secured and
nose rings are of at most importance.
Slowly approach the bull talking in tones of
kindness
First approach should be towards shoulder areas
rather than back

10. Physical examination
• Skin coat should be
smooth and shiny.
• Integument: check for
presence of any hernias
1. SKIN/INTEGUMENT

11. Physical examination
2. PERMANENT ID

12. Physical examination
3. EYE

13. Physical examination
4. ORAL CAVITY

14. ** Critical.
•Sickle Hocked: Angle of tarsus is small.
•Post Legged/postiness: Angle of tarsus is large.
•Cow Hocked/toed-out stance/lateral rotation: hind
limbs are curved laterally.
• Bow legged/medial rotation: hind limbs are
curved medially.
•Crooked Legs/Feet
Physical examination
5. REAR LIMB LOCOMOTION CONFORMATION

15. View from back
A. Normal stance
B. Bow-legged
C. Cow hocked
View form side
D. Normal
E. Sickle hock
F. postiness
5. Rear Limb Locomotion conformation

16. 5. Rear Limb Locomotion conformation

17. 5. Rear Limb Locomotion conformation

18. • Joints
• Laminitis
• Scars around coronary band
• Interdigital growths
• Footrot
• Hoof Cracks
Physical examination
6. Neuromuskuloskeletal and hooves system
(NMSH)

21. Visual Exam of Scrotum
• Scrotal Conformation:
-Abaxial surface-convex
- Scrotal wall should be thin
and flexible
• Evidence of Injury
• Skin Lesions
• Vericoceles

22. Scrotal Circumference
• Indicates Fertility & Puberty
• Ensure Both Testicles are in
Scrotum, their shape, size and
consistency
• Place Tape at Largest Diameter
• Pull until Skin Indents
Visual Exam of Scrotum

23. Measurement of scrotal circumference

24. Measurement of scrotal circumference

25. Correct hand placement Incorrect Hand Placement

26. Measurement
Minimum Recommended Scrotal Circumference in
Centimetres by Age for Bulls
Age of bull Minimum scrotal circumference
< 15 months 30 cms
15-18 months 31 cms
19-21 months 32 cms
22-24 months 33 cms
> 24 months 34 cms

27. Palpation of testis and epididymis
Palpation:
• Ensure There Are Two testicles
• Free & Moveable
• Symmetry
• Epididymis: a single,
torturous, coiled tubule
starting from the proximal
portion of the testis
**Ultrasonography of the testis is also practiced to
look for fluid filled structure.

28. Testicular shape, measurement and
consistency in bull
Shape of the testis Oval
Length 10-15 cm
Diameter 5.0-8.5 cm
weight 200-500 gm
Consistency (normal) Firm and resilient
Testicular dysfunction and degeneration(abnormal) Soft and flabby testis
Excessive hardness and irregular contour Fibrosis/calcification

29. Examination of penis and prepuce
Can be examined at the time of
semen collection or by palpation.
Look for
• Full penile and preputial
development.
• Inflammatory conditions,
fibropapilloma, fracture,
anatomical abnormality (presence
of penile frenulum), adhesions
etc..

30. Rainbow penis
Cork screw penis
Examination of penis and prepuce
Penile Fibropapilloma

32. Internal Reproductive Organ
Examination
• Seminal Vesicles
• Ampulla
• Prostate Gland
• Inguinal Rings

33. Internal Reproductive Organ
Examination

37. Semen Evaluation
1. Mass Motility
Mass Activity (Gross) Descriptive value Numerical
scale
Extremely rapid waves and swirls Excellent (nearly 100% motile perms ) 5
Rapid waves and swirls Good (nearly 90% motile sperms ) 4
Waves and swirls are slow, scattered Fair (50-80% motile sperms) 3
Waves and swirls are absent Poor (40% progressive motile sperms) 2
Waves and swirls are absent Very poor (20% progressive motile
sperms)
1
Sperms are non-motile All dead 0
Initial motility should be > 70% and post thaw motility should be >50%

38. Types of motility observed in the spermatozoa
1. Sperms moving very rapidly in the straight
forward direction.
2. Forward circular motion because of defects
in mid piece and tail.
3. Reverse circling motion.
4. Oscillatory movements and jerks.
Semen Evaluation
2. Individual Motility

39. 2. Individual Motility
Progressive motility Descriptive value
80-100% Excellent
60-80% Good
40-60% Fair
20-40% Poor
0-20% very poor

40. Semen Evaluation
3. Morphology
• Determined at 1000X
•Eosin-nigrosin stain
•70% Normal
Making Slide

41. Normal Bovine Sperm

42. Common Sperm Abnormalities

45. Assessment of libido and serving ability is widely
Used.
Two tests employed are:
1. Libido test
2. Serving capacity test
5. Mating ability
1. Service testing of bulls
Service test

46. Libido test
Single pre stimulated bull is introduced to a
restrained heifer
Libido is scored based on the number and vigour
of mating attempts.
** overall sexual interest can also be assessed

47. Service capacity test
Developed as a competitive mating test
Group of four to six bulls and oestrogenised
heifers are restrained
Number of mounts and services are recorded.

49. Semen proteins as predictors of bull
fertility
Specific proteins found in bovine semen that
reflect fertility potential are:
1. Osteopontin (OPN)
2. Lipocalin type prostaglandin D 9PGD)synthase
3. Fertility-associated antigen(FAA)
4. Type-2 tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases
(TIMP-2)

51. Test for examination of specific
infectious diseases
The bulls should be tested periodically against
a. Brucellosis
b. Campylobacteriosis
c. Leptospirosis
d. Trichomoniasis
e. Tuberculosis
f. Johne’s disease.

52. Trichomoniasis

53. Preputial Culture

55. Bull breeding soundness evaluation
• SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE (40 percent)
• MOTILITY (20 percent)
• MORPHOLOGY (40 percent)

56. Classification of Bulls
• Satisfactory Potential Breeder
• Deferred
• Unsatisfactory Potential Breeder

59. Economics of Testing
Bulls that have Passed a Breeding Soundness
Examination will have a 7% Increase in
Pregnancy Rates on Average Over Those that
were not Tested.

60. SUMMARY
• Breeding soundness evaluation is a practical
method to eliminate bulls with less than
satisfactory breeding potential.
• This evaluation should be conducted on every
bull 30 to 60 days before each breeding
season.
• Desire and ability to mate successfully.
• Bulls should be free of venereal diseases