Ultrasound monitoring of the first trimester of pregnancy in local goats through visualisation and measurements of some biometric parameters

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was monitoring of the first trimester of pregnancy in local goats through ultrasound visualisation and measurements of some biometric parameters. Eighteen local Bulgarian goats, 2 to 4 years of age, weighing 48–56 kg, reared in the Biobase of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Stara Zagora were included in the experiments. All animals underwent ultrasound checks on gestation days 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49. Ultrasound measurements included the following biometric parameters: uterine lumen diameter, crown-rump length, trunk diameter, biparietal diameter, inner and outer diameter of placentomes, long and short heart axis, foetal heart rate, foetal orbit diameter. The analysis of results indicated that ultrasound check during the first trimester of pregnancy of local goats could start at 21 day of pregnancy when two biometric parameters were visualised – uterine lumen diameter (10.3±2.7 mm), filled with anechoic amniotic fluid and foetal crownrump length (5.2±0.9 mm), which was hyperechoic. From the 28 day of gestation, ultrasound measurement of trunk diameter was possible. The inner and outer placentome diameters, biparietal diameter and foetal heart rate could be used for monitoring of pregnancy by the end of the first trimester (days 42 and 49).