7 Bovine Pregnancy Diganosis

Dairy: breed again 30-35 days post AI

Beef: cull

What is the difference between IDing non-pregnant beef and dairy cows?

Trans-rectal palpation

How can you as a vet evaluate for pregnancy?

You can use this method anytime between 35 days pregnant to term

When can you trans-rectally PALPATE a cow for pregnancy?

1. Fetal membrane slip

2. amniotic vesicle

3. placentomes

4. fetus

What are the 4 cardinal signs of pregnancy thru rectal palp in cows?

1. direct = grab cervix and hook fingers over ventral intercornual ligament, pulling the tract onto the pelvic floor

2. indirect = grab cervix and grasp cranial edge of broad ligament. pull ligament to bring horn into grasp, follow to intercornual ligament and pull tract onto pelvic floor

What is retraction of the uterus in cows?

Retraction of the uterus

What procedure is necessary for thorough examination of open tracts and early pregnancies up to 90 days in cows?

Membrane slip (palpable from 30-90 days)

What is the EARLIERST SIGN of pregnancy in cows? When can you feel it?

Membrane slip

*NOTE: BE CAREFUL + this takes LOTS of experience and a delicate touch

This occurs when the chorioallantois is "slipped" when palpating the gravid uterine horn, feeling like you are strumming guitar strings covered with a towel

Membrane slip (i don't know what you're looking at either sorry)

What is this?

32-35 days but NOT after 55-60 days

*so basically this is palpable from 32-60 days

When can you first palpate the amniotic vesicle in pregnant cows?

Amniotic vesicle

This is a turgid vesicle felt in the pregnant cow uterine horn, where you can use the diameter of the vesicle to gauge gestational age

Amniotic vesicle

What is this?

Maternal caruncle + fetal cotyledon

What makes up a "placentome"

80 days

When does the placentome first become palpable in a pregnant cow?

At least 3 placentomes

How many placentomes should you feel in a cow before determining she's pregnant and stage of gestation?

Placentomes

What is visible here?

At the bifurcation

Where should you palpate for placentomes in cows to maintain consistency?

Convex

What is the shape of the cotyledon in the cow?

Concave

What is the shape of the cotyledon in the sheep and goat?

55-65 days

When can you first PALPATE the fetus in a pregnant cow?

d. 70 days

Select which day of gestation the descent of the fetus BEGINS:

a. 150 days

b. 210 days

c. 240 days

d. 70 days

a. 150 days

Select which day of gestation the descent of the fetus COMPLETES:

a. 150 days

b. 210 days

c. 240 days

d. 70 days

b. 210 days

Select which day of gestation the ascent of the fetus BEGINS:

a. 150 days

b. 210 days

c. 240 days

d. 70 days

c. 240 days

Select which day of gestation the ascent of the fetus COMPLETES:

a. 150 days

b. 210 days

c. 240 days

d. 70 days

1. 60 days: mouse (2 mo)

2. 90 days: rat (3 mo)

3. 120 days: small cat (4 mo)

4. 150 days: beagle (5 mo)

5. 210 days: doberman (6 mo)

Describe fetal size at:

1. 60 days

2. 90 days

3. 120 days

4. 150 days

5. 210 days

1. asymmetry of uterine horns

2. thinning of uterine wall

3. fixation of cervix

4. fremitus of middle uterine artery

5. presence of CL

6. fluid in uterus

Name the SUPPORTIVE SIGNS of pregnancy in cows:

c. fixation of cervix

d. fremitus of middle uterine artery

f. fluid in uterus

Select the supportive signs of pregnancy in cows:

a. symmetrical uterine horns

b. thickened uterine walls

c. fixation of cervix

d. fremitus (vibration) of middle uterine artery

e. absence of CL

f. fluid in uterus

Broad ligament

Where do you find fremitus of the middle uterine artery?

Stress (HR)

What causes variability of fremitus in middle uterine artery in cows?

Iliac artery

What is the middle uterine artery often confused with in pregnant cows?

At 5 months, when middle uterine artery is 9 mm, there is fremitus on same side

At 6 months, 12 mm uterine artery and both sides have fremitus though only same side is large

At 7 months, it is over 12 mm and both are large and have fremitus

When do you start to feel fremitus of the middle uterine artery in pregnant cows?

During 1st half of gestation

When is estimation of the stage of pregnancy MOST ACCURATE using the diameter of the pregnant horn and vesicle?

30-35 days

When can experienced vets predict an early pregnancy diagnosis?

1. there is normal variation in size and thickness of uterus

2. heifers (easier than cows)

3. breeds (some are easier, Jerseys are worst)

4. parity (number of children born)

5. dependent on skill, experience, and frequency of palpation of DVM

Experienced vets can detect early pregnancy (30-35 days), but this depends on several factors. What are they?

b. parity

c. some breeds are easier than others (jerseys are worst)

e. dependent on skill, experience, and frequency of palpation of DVM

Experienced vets can detect early pregnancy (30-35 days), but this depends on several factors. Select what they are?

a. fat cows are easier to breed than heifers

b. parity

c. some breeds are easier than others (jerseys are worst)

d. all sizes and thicknesses of uterus SHOULD be the same

e. dependent on skill, experience, and frequency of palpation of DVM

Most useful after 24 days to detect heartbeat

(fetal gender can also be determined at 55-80 days)

When is trans-rectal ULTRASOUND most helpful after? What can you detect?

a. 130 days

On trans-rectal ultrasound, a fetus's crown rump length is 30.0 cm. How old is it?

a. 130 days

b. 150 days

c. 155 days

d. 160 days

e. 170 days

f. 240 days

b. 150 days

On trans-rectal ultrasound, a fetus's crown rump length is 37.5 cm. How old is it?

a. 130 days

b. 150 days

c. 155 days

d. 160 days

e. 170 days

f. 240 days

c. 155 days

On trans-rectal ultrasound, a fetus's crown rump length is 39.0 cm. How old is it?

a. 130 days

b. 150 days

c. 155 days

d. 160 days

e. 170 days

f. 240 days

d. 160 days

On trans-rectal ultrasound, a fetus's crown rump length is 43.0 cm. How old is it?

a. 130 days

b. 150 days

c. 155 days

d. 160 days

e. 170 days

f. 240 days

e. 170 days

On trans-rectal ultrasound, a fetus's crown rump length is 47.0 cm. How old is it?

a. 130 days

b. 150 days

c. 155 days

d. 160 days

e. 170 days

f. 240 days

f. 240 days

On trans-rectal ultrasound, a fetus's crown rump length is 75.0 cm. How old is it?

a. 130 days

b. 150 days

c. 155 days

d. 160 days

e. 170 days

f. 240 days

a. 30.0 cm = 130 days

b. 37.5 cm = 150 days

c. 39.0 cm = 155 days

d. 43.0 cm = 160 days

e. 47.0 cm = 170 days

f. 75.0 cm = 240 days

The crown rump lengths are as follows on trans-rectal ultrasound:

a. 30.0 cm

b. 37.5 cm

c. 39.0 cm

d. 43.0 cm

e. 47.0 cm

f. 75.0 cm

Give the respective days for each length.

70 days

When does the rumen of a fetus show up on trans-rectal ultrasound?

60 days

When can you reliably sex a fetus by trans-rectal ultrasound?

1. bovine pregnancy specific protein B

2. progesterone (in blood or milk)

3. estrone sulfate (product of placenta)

Name the endocrine tests for pregnancy testing cows:

150 days

Diameter of the placentomes is useful in early pregnancy diagnosis up to how many days?

Trans-rectal palpation

This bovine pregnancy detection method:

is inexpensive, low tech, gives immediate info BUT requires training, is subjective and questionable safety. Also not definitive

Trans-rectal ultrasound

This bovine pregnancy detection method:

is definitive, clear, and objective BUT is EXPENSIVE, requires training and uses electricity. Results are digital. Is professional and good for those wondering why cows are open

Pregnancy specific protein B

This bovine pregnancy detection method:

is inexpensive, low tech, has no special equipment and is quantitative BUT takes time and gives false positives. Requires client skill/training to bleed cow

Milk or blood progesterone

This bovine pregnancy detection method:

is inexpensive, easy, and low tech but takes time, record keeping, cow ID, and is not quantitative. Need education and RECORDS