The present study was conducted in buffaloes which were maintained at experimental animal sheds of Animal Reproduction Division, IVRI, Izatnagar. All the experimental buffaloes (n=6) were observed for onset of estrus using a teaser bull and visual signs of estrus followed by rectal examination twice daily. Animals detected in estrus were inseminated using frozen semen of Murrah buffalo. The inseminated buffaloes were allowed for real time B-mode ultrasonographic examination at 10 days interval starting from day 20 to 120 of pregnancy. Monitoring of embryonic development was carried out by viewing embryonic vesicle diameter (EVD), Crown Rump length (CRL), embryonic heartbeat, skull and placentome through ultrasonography. The mean diameter of EV was 0.52±0.12, 1.56±0.16, 2.94±0.07, 3.80±0.14 and 6.37±0.15 cm on day 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 of pregnancy, respectively. EVD increased with advancement of pregnancy and reached around 6.37±0.15 cm on day 60 of pregnancy. The CRL was 0.73±0.05, 1.45±0.55, 2.13±0.05 and 3.24±0.10 cm on day 30, 40, 50 and 60 of pregnancy, respectively. The mean heart rate was 197.33±4.60, 173.16±1.55, 162.33±1.20, 155.33±1.60, 152.16±2.58 and 146.66±2.40 per minute on days 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 120 of pregnancy, respectively. The heart rate was significantly (P<0.01) higher on day 50 of pregnancy, thereafter, it decreased with advancement of pregnancy. The mean diameter of skull  was 2.33±0.18,   2.90±0.12, 3.52±0.19   and   4.58±0.22 cm on days 60, 70, 80 and 90 of pregnancy, respectively. The skull diameter increased with the advancement of pregnancy. The accessibility of skull or head was very difficult as the pregnancy advanced into mid of the second trimester. The mean diameter of placentome increased with the advancement of pregnancy i.e. 0.38±0.01, 0.64±0.14, 1.05±0.07 and 1.26±0.08 cm on days 70, 80, 90 and 120 of pregnancy, respectively. The present study indicated use of Real time B mode transrectal ultrasonography in buffalo for early diagnosis of pregnancy, embryonic development and its viability by viewing embryonic vesicle, embryo, embryonic heart beat and other structures.

Oestrus detection plays an important role in the reproductive management of a dairy farm. To improve the post-breeding oestrus observation practice among the farmers, a reproductive management tool called ‘Oestrus Monitoring Chart’ (OMC) was designed and developed. The effectiveness of this technology on oestrus detection, timed artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis was studied in a small scale crossbred cattle dairy farm. Breeding parameters viz., number of inseminations carried out per animal, duration between two successive inseminations for each animal, duration between artificial insemination and pregnancy check-up and conception rate was studied for a period of one year before (G1) and one year after installation of OMC (G2). Perusal of the data revealed that the duration between successive artificial insemination (AI) and the duration between AI and pregnancy diagnosis was significantly (P lt; 0.01) decreased in G2 group when compared with G1 group. The conception rate was also significantly improved after the installation of the OMC and introduction of OMC as a reproductive management tool improved the oestrus detection attitude among the farm personnel.

Oestrus detection plays an important role in the reproductive management of a dairy farm. To improve the post-breeding oestrus observation practice among the farmers, a reproductive management tool called ‘Oestrus Monitoring Chart’ (OMC) was designed and developed. The effectiveness of this technology on oestrus detection, timed artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis was studied in a small scale crossbred cattle dairy farm. Breeding parameters viz., number of inseminations carried out per animal, duration between two successive inseminations for each animal, duration between artificial insemination and pregnancy check-up and conception rate was studied for a period of one year before (G1) and one year after installation of OMC (G2). Perusal of the data revealed that the duration between successive artificial insemination (AI) and the duration between AI and pregnancy diagnosis was significantly (P lt; 0.01) decreased in G2 group when compared with G1 group. The conception rate was also significantly improved after the installation of the OMC and introduction of OMC as a reproductive management tool improved the oestrus detection attitude among the farm personnel.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of transrectal palpation (TRP) performed with the fetal membrane slip (FMS) technique for early pregnancy diagnosis on the proportion and type of associated pregnancy losses (PLs) in dairy cattle. ANIMALS 580 healthy pregnant cattle. PROCEDURES Data for artificially inseminated females with 1 or 2 viable embryos detected by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) at approximately 30 days of gestation were retrospectively assessed. Cattle were assigned to 1 of 2 groups on the basis of whether they did or did not undergo TRP once between 34 and 41 days of gestation (palpation and control group, respectively). At approximately 45 and 60 days of gestation, all cattle were reevaluated by TRUS; PL was categorized as type I (FMS detectable by TRP and TRUS-confirmed evidence of embryo or fetus degeneration and a functional corpus luteum) or type II (FMS undetectable by TRP and no TRUS-confirmed evidence of an embryo or fetus or of a functional corpus luteum). RESULTS Of the 580 healthy pregnant cattle, 271 underwent TRP and 309 did not. In the palpation and control groups, PL occurred in 40 (14.8%) and 47 (15.2%) cattle, respectively. Among the palpation group's PLs, 17 (43%) were type I and 23 (58%) were type II. Among the control group's PLs, 27 (57%) were type I and 20 (43%) were type II. The prevalance and type of PL did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE TRP with the FMS technique for early pregnancy diagnosis did not increase the prevalence of PL in dairy cattle or alert the proportion of type I versus type II PL.

Transabdominal ultrasonography has been popularly used in animal reproduction for the assessment of pregnancy status and foetal viability where as transvaginal method for pregnancy diagnosis is rarely used for pregnancy diagnosis in goats. The study was conducted in 74 Attappady Black goats from Government Goat Farm, Attappady and Livestock Research Station, Thiruvizhamkunnu to evaluate the accuracy of trans-vaginal methods and to identify the fetal characteristics from day 20 to 75. Transvaginal ultrasonographic examination was performed using endocavity transducer with frequency of 6.5 to 8 MHz. Observations were made in all the pregnant does at three different stages of pregnancy i.e., 20-35 days, 35-55 days and 55-75 days. Does were diagnosed as pregnant from the observation of gestational sac, embryo or foetus, embryonic or foetal heartbeat, placentomes or foetal skeleton. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and overall accuracy along gestation period were 98.03, 92.3, 96.15, 96 and 95.62%, respectively. It is concluded from the present study that transvaginal ultrasonography can be used for herd pregnancy diagnosis at early stages from day 20 to 45 of pregnancy diagnosis in goats.

Objective-To compare β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and glucose concentrations measured with a dual-purpose point-of-care (POC) meter designed for use in humans and a laboratory biochemical analyzer (LBA) to determine whether the POC meter would be reliable for on-farm measurement of blood glucose and BHB concentrations in sheep in various environmental conditions and nutritional states. Animals-36 pregnant mixed-breed ewes involved in a maternal feed restriction study. Procedures-Blood samples were collected from each sheep at multiple points throughout gestation and lactation to allow for tracking of gradually increasing metabolic hardship. Whole blood glucose and BHB concentrations were measured with the POC meter and compared with serum results obtained with an LBA. Results-464 samples were collected. Whole blood BHB concentrations measured with the POC meter compared well with LBA results, and error grid analysis showed the POC values were acceptable. Whole blood glucose concentrations measured with the POC meter had more variation, compared with LBA values, over the glucose ranges evaluated. Results of error grid analysis of POC-measured glucose concentrations were not acceptable, indicating errors likely to result in needless treatment with glucose or other supplemental energy sources in normoglycemic sheep. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The POC meter was user-friendly and performed well across a wide range of conditions. The meter was adequate for detection of pregnancy toxemia in sheep via whole blood BHB concentration. Results should be interpreted with caution when the POC meter is used to measure blood glucose concentrations.