National Veterinary Examination (獣医師国家試験) · Japan · Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), with the Veterinary Affairs Council
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersThe female reproductive tract, the oestrous cycle and its hormones, heat detection and synchronisation, infertility and pregnancy diagnosis, with emphasis on cows and buffaloes.
In the exams: ICAR AICE-JRF core group 07; ICAR AIEEA-PG 13 (ARGO); Nepal NLEV Theriogenology 8; China clinical paper obstetrics 15; EGEL Plus reproduction and genetics 15
How our questions for National Veterinary Examination spread across the units of Veterinary Gynaecology & Reproductive Endocrinology. Difficulty: 18 easy, 26 medium, 6 hard.
| Pregnancy diagnosis | 8 | |
| The oestrous cycle | 7 | |
| Heat detection | 5 | |
| Oestrus synchronisation protocols | 5 | |
| Endometritis | 5 | |
| Anoestrus | 4 | |
| Female reproductive anatomy | 3 | |
| Reproductive hormones | 3 | |
| Repeat breeding | 3 | |
| Cystic ovarian disease | 3 | |
| Infertility in cows and buffaloes | 3 | |
| Female reproductive physiology | 1 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
Why is frozen semen in sheep commonly deposited by laparoscopy rather than through the cervix?
C. The ewe's cervix has tight, offset rings that are hard to pass
The tortuous, misaligned cervical rings of the ewe prevent easy transcervical passage, so laparoscopic intrauterine AI gives better results with frozen semen. It is the sow, not the ewe, that lacks a vaginal portion of the cervix.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
Relative to oestrus, when does the cow ovulate?
A. 10-14 hours after the end of oestrus
The cow is unusual in ovulating after standing oestrus has ended, about 10-14 hours later. Ovulating 24-48 hours before the end of oestrus describes the mare.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
A sow is expected to return to oestrus how long after weaning?
B. About 4-7 days
Weaning removes the suckling inhibition of LH secretion, and most sows show oestrus four to seven days later, which makes weaning a natural synchroniser.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
Why does a single injection of PGF2α not bring all cycling cows into oestrus?
D. Cows in the first five days after ovulation have a CL that is refractory to PGF2α
The young CL (about days 0-5) and cows already in the follicular phase do not respond. A second injection 11-14 days later catches cows that were refractory the first time.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
Out-of-season synchronisation of ewes commonly uses:
B. Intravaginal progestogen sponges with eCG at removal
Anoestrous ewes have no CL, so PGF2α is useless; progestogen for about 12-14 days (or shorter protocols) with eCG at removal induces oestrus and ovulation. Altrenogest is the standard oral progestogen for gilts.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
Which hormone, measured in the blood, is a specific pregnancy test in the bitch?
C. Relaxin
Canine relaxin comes only from the placenta. Progesterone is similar in pregnant and non-pregnant dioestrous bitches and cannot diagnose pregnancy.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
A beef cow in good condition, suckling a 60-day-old calf, has not cycled. Ovaries show follicles up to 9 mm and no CL. The most appropriate treatment is:
C. Progesterone device for 7-9 days, PGF2α and eCG at removal, and temporary calf separation
She is anovular, so PGF2α alone has no CL to act on. Progesterone priming with eCG, combined with reducing the suckling stimulus, gives the best chance of ovulation.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
Which laboratory test best identifies subclinical endometritis as a cause of repeat breeding?
D. Endometrial cytology by cytobrush or low-volume lavage
Subclinical endometritis has no discharge; it is diagnosed by an increased proportion of neutrophils on endometrial cytology. Palpating uterine size is unreliable.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
An 8-year-old intact bitch is depressed, polydipsic and vomiting 5 weeks after oestrus, with no vaginal discharge and an enlarged uterus on ultrasound. The best course is:
C. Stabilise with fluids and antimicrobials, then ovariohysterectomy
Closed-cervix pyometra is an emergency with risk of rupture and sepsis; ovariohysterectomy after stabilisation is the treatment of choice. Progestogens would worsen the condition.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
A bitch's LH surge was determined to be on 1 May 2026. Using 65 days from the LH surge, when is whelping expected?
A. 5 July 2026
1 May + 65 days = 5 July 2026. 3 July would be 63 days, the interval counted from ovulation (about two days after the LH surge), not from the surge; 7 July applies the 65 days from ovulation (3 May) instead of from the surge.
Further reading: Noakes, Parkinson & England, Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics; Senger, Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition
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