Ultrasonic Measurement of Fetal Parameters for Estimation of Gestational Age in Korean Black Goats

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to determine relationship of gestational age with measurement of diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein in Korean black goats. In this study, ten pregnant Korean black goats (Capra hircus aegagrus) were used. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed with a 5 MHz linear transducer and ultrasonographic scan were performed at 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 135 days after mating with a 4-9 MHz convex transducer. For accurate measurement, all fetal organs were measured at least 3 times. The diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein were significantly increased with the gestational age (P<0.05). Of these parameters, trunk (r=0.8876; p<0.001), long axis of heart (r=0.9168; p<0.001) and short axis of heart (r=0.8819; p<0.001) proved to be the more effective measurements than other parameters, as it correlated well with gestational age. Results indicate that ultrasonic measurements of these parameters were useful methods to estimate gestational age in Korean black goat. KEY WORDS: fetal parameter, gestational age, Korean black goat, ultrasonography.

Comparison of foetal growth in singleton and twin pregnancies byB-mode and Doppler ultrasonography in Karya ewes

“…Because of the long duration of the breeding season and variation related to time of mating in the flock, these examinations can raise productivity in the ewe enterprise. Various studies on the estimation of gestational age have provided foetal biometric correlation data in small ruminants (8,9,11,25,26). Among these studies, there is only one that has compared biometric traits of single and twin foetuses and attempted to find correlation among them.…”

“…Trunk diameter is another biometric parameter that is usually used in estimation of the gestational age (9,11). It allows the performance of foetometry when crown rump length and BPD are not measurable, especially in the third trimester (4,11).…”

“…In the monitoring of foetal growth, UCD has a lower correlation with foetal age than either BPD or TD (9,27). In the current study, the UCD value of twins was higher on day 55 of pregnancy.…”

“…Various results concerning the determination of gestational age and normal foetal growth rate from measurements of some biometric parameters have been recorded for different ewe and goat breeds (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). These studies have provided important results for flock management systems by allowing the grouping of pregnant animals at different gestational stages or with signs of approaching labour.…”

The accuracy of gestational age predicted from femur and humerus length in Saanen goats using ultrasonography

“…When the date of mating is unknown, the monitoring of foetal development allows estimation of gestational age which is important for appropriate prenatal management (Karen 2003;Lee et al 2005) and would be useful to dry off lactating females at adequate period and to monitor females near term (Karen et al 2001). The first pregnancy diagnosis in goats by ultrasonography was reported in 1983 (Hesselink and Taverne 1994).…”