کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
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2097169 | 1082201 | 2007 | 5 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |

The objective was to determine if transrectal ultrasonography for determination of pregnancy in restrained ewes increases embryonic/fetal death or loss of pregnancy. Ten flocks (N = 873 ewes) bred in either the estrous or anestrous season were randomized, into control (C) or examined (E) groups within flock. Examined ewes were placed in a tilting squeeze chute and scanned by one of three operators for pregnancy by transrectal ultrasonography once between Days 25 and 100 post-breeding. Control ewes were not subjected to handling in the squeeze chute or pregnancy diagnosis. Two operators counted embryos in E ewes in six flocks. There were no differences between E and C ewes in percent ewes lambing or lambing rate on a per flock basis. Prolificacy per flock was greater in E ewes (P = 0.05; 1.53 versus 1.60, C and E, respectively) than in C ewes. Eighty-five percent of exposed ewes lambed in the estrous season, while only 62% of ewes lambed in the anestrous season (P = 0.05). Overall prolificacy did not differ with season (1.60 versus 1.53), and there was no season by treatment interaction for any variable tested. Losses averaged 0.02 per E ewe exposed in the estrous season and 0.20 in the anestrous season (P < 0.05). Examined ewes in this study had similar pregnancy and lambing rates to C ewes in the same flocks and prolificacy was slightly greater. Based on these data, the combination of transrectal ultrasonography with restraint is safe for pregnancy diagnosis in ewes.
Journal: Theriogenology - Volume 68, Issue 7, 15 October 2007, Pages 1012–1016