Estimation of fetal development in Manchega dairy ewes by transrectal ultrasonographic measurements
Serial transrectal ultrasonographies were performed during the first three months of gestation measuring different structures of ovine fetuses to establish their gestational age. Data were obtained from 23 Manchega ewes that became pregnant after oestrous synchronization. Embryonic vesicle diameter, from day 12 to 29 of pregnancy, showed high correlation with gestational age (p < 0.01). From day 19 of gestation onwards, the crown-rump length and the trunk diameter of the embryo were estimated. Later, when the foetal organs and structures could be distinguished, several measurements were done in the skull (occipito-snout length and biparietal and orbit diameters), the trunk (thoracic diameter, width of three vertebrae and width of three ribs), and the abdominal cavity (stomach and kidney longitudinal diameters); femur length was determined too. All measurements were correlated with gestational age (p < 0.005), but the parameters showing the highest correlation coefficients with time (up to 0.92) were the crown-rump and occipito-snout lengths, and the thoracic, biparietal and orbit diameters. No significant differences were observed in pregnancies with one or two fetuses in the period studied. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
1998
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| Subjects: | Foetal growth, Gestational age, Sheep, Transrectal ultrasonography, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/1839 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/291846 |
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