Breeding soundness evaluation focusing on penis examination in a bull – methodology and a case report

The aim of the study was to point out a rare congenital reproductive defect in a bull, namely a short penis. The case report is focused on examination methods usable for inducing penile prolapse in a bull and the presentation of a specific bull with a high libido accompanied by a low pregnancy rates within a beef cow herd. The bull was completely andrologically examined by methods of breeding soundness evaluation, which include examination of the libido and ejaculate, and a basic clinical examination of the male reproductive organs. Since penis examination in a bull can pose a problem, it is advisable to use one of the variety of methods of inducing its prolapse, as presented in this clinical case. The anamnesis showed that the patient’s libido was very good. Semen was examined using flow cytometry and subjective microscopicals methods, showing very good quality. The results of the general clinical and laboratory examination did not show any pathological changes. Special attention was paid to the examination of the external and internal reproductive organs which were without pathological findings except for an insufficient penis length proven after artificial penile prolapse using bilateral anaesthesia of the pudental nerves. The diagnosis was established as a congenitally short penis. Breeding soundness evaluation is a complex examination system that evaluates several criteria and a failure in just one criterion can cause the bull to be removed from a breeding programme, as seen in the presented case.