Bovine Reproduction Booklet UK A5 16pp Text 10

8/18/2019 Bovine Reproduction Booklet UK A5 16pp Text 10

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Best on-farm ultrasound solutions

Bovine

ReproductionClinical booklet

with Easi-Scan


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Contents

Ovary 3

Uterus 5

Twins 7

Foetal Sex 8

Reproductive Tract Pathology 9

Cattle Gestational Age Tables 11

Glossary of Terms 12

References 13

Easi-Scan 14

Easi-Scan Congurations 16

This Bovine Reproduction Clinical Booklet has been designed by

BCF Technology Ltd as a reference booklet for the reproductive tract in

the cow and provides images to show different stages of the fertility and

reproductive processes.

Written by Kimberly Palgrave, BS BVM&S MRCVS in-house vet for

BCF Technology UK.

Images generously provided by M.V. Juan Jose Ferzola, veterinarian doctor

from AllVet Veterinarian Technology, Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a bovine

reproduction specialist in Chivilcoy, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina,

Juan Jose has been using ultrasound for the majority of his reproductive

examinations since 1991. Additional images courtesy of Lucy Tyler MA VetMB

CertCHP MRCVS of Hale Veterinary Group, Wiltshire, UK.

Special thanks to Carl Bollum of BCF Technology USA for his contributions.

© BCF Technology Ltd


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Evaluation of the bovine reproductive

tract is an essential aspect of both

beef and dairy herd management.

In addition to manual palpation,

ultrasonography is commonly used

to examine and evaluate the cow’s

reproductive tract. Transrectalultrasonography is performed through

the introduction of an ultrasound

transducer (probe) into the rectum.

This enables the architecture of

the ovaries, uterus, reproductive

vasculature and surrounding structures

to be visualised and evaluated.


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Linear-array transducers with frequency

ranges of 5.0 to 7.5 MHz producing

rectangular-shaped images are most

commonly used. Linear transducers

produce higher quality images of tissues

directly beneath the surface of the

probe (the ‘near’ eld) compared to

the wedge-shaped images produced

by a sector transducer. However,

sector probes may also be used.

At the start of each ultrasound

examination, the animal should be

adequately restrained. Excess faecal

material may be removed from therectum to facilitate examination of

the reproductive tract. The lubricated

transducer is then cupped in the

operator’s hand and carefully inserted

into the rectum. The transducer is

placed rmly against the ventral aspect

of the rectum (rectal oor) and the

exam is started. All of the internal

reproductive structures should be

identied and evaluated in a systematic

manner, including the ovaries, uterine

horns, uterine body, cervix and

vagina. The transducer, still within

the operator’s cupped hand, is then

gently withdrawn from the rectum.

The speed of ultrasound examination

may approach that of manualpalpation, depending on effective

animal restraint and operator ability.

However, it is also important to

remember that the amount of useful

information gained is increased

through the use of ultrasonography,

including early identication of

non-pregnant cows, identication

of cows carrying twins, assessment

of foetal viability, determination

of foetal sex, identication of

ovarian structures and detection of

ovarian/uterine abnormalities.

It is important to recognise both

normal and abnormal structures ontransrectal ultrasound examination.

It is also essential to realise that

there may be signicant variation

between cows. Therefore, ultrasound

examination ndings should always

be interpreted in combination with

farm records, herd data and visual

observations (e.g. ‘heat’ detection).


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Ovary

Anoestrus

The stroma of the anoestrus ovary

has homogeneous echogenicity

on ultrasound examination. Gross

structures associated with cyclic

activity such as follicles and corpora

lutea are typically not visible. Small,

truly anoestrus ovaries are usually

only found in young heifers.

Active ovAry

The components of the active ovary,

including follicles, corpora lutea

and ovarian stroma, have various

echogenicities and therefore will

appear as varying shades of grey

on ultrasound examination.

Flll

Follicles typically appear as anechoic

regions within the ovarian stroma.

However, it is not usually possible to

distinguish the follicular wall from the

surrounding stroma (apart from large

pre-ovulatory follicles). Follicles do not

always appear round due to transferred

pressure from the transducer on

the surrounding ovarian tissue.

ca La

Corpora lutea may be seen on the

ovaries of most cows as true anoestrus

is rare and the corpus luteum (CL) is

present for two thirds of the oestrous

cycle. Luteal tissue appears as distinctly

echogenic areas within the ovarian

stroma. A central lacuna (uid-lled

cavity) may be seen within a normal CL

> oa flll

ovAriAn FoLLicLes


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and should not be confused with the

presence of a luteal cyst. Compared

to a luteal cyst, a normal CL with a

central lacuna is less than 25mm in

diameter and the lacuna occupies

less than one third of the entire CL.

The CL may usually be identied on

ultrasound examination 4 days after

ovulation occurs. If fertilisation of the

ovum does not occur and pregnancy

is not established, the CL reaches

peak size 16 days post-ovulation and

then begins to regress. Therefore,

repeated examination of the ovariescan provide useful information

regarding stage of the cycle through

observation of changes to the CL.

Additionally, persistence of the CL

may assist in the determination

of early pregnancy diagnosis. The

embryonic vesicle can usually be

found in the uterine horn ipsilateralto the ovary containing the CL.

> cL laa

> cL flll

corpus

Luteum

corpus

Luteum

LAcunAe

FoLLicLes


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Uterus

non-pregnAnt uterus

The uterus has different echogenic

appearances depending on the stage

of the oestrous cycle. Viewing the

uterine horn in cross section, where the

uterus is circular in appearance may

enable the endometrium, myometrium

and uterine lumen and its contents to

be identied more easily. When the

cow is in oestrus, the endometrium

becomes oedematous and thereforethe endometrial folds become more

prominent. The lumen also has a varying

appearance depending on intraluminal

uid accumulation at different stages

of the cycle. In the periovulatory

period, the uterine lumen appears

anechoic due to mucus accumulation.

It is important to differentiate between

the appearance of a large amountof mucus in the uterus and early

pregnancy. This can be done through

examination of the ovaries for the

presence of follicles and corpora lutea

in addition to the presence/absence

of a foetus, foetal membranes and

placentomes (cotyledon/caruncle unit).

pregnAnt uterus

Early and accurate identication of

the non-pregnant cow is essential

to improve the overall reproductive

efciency of the herd. Although the

experienced operator may be capable of

detecting a pregnancy as early as day

17 post-breeding/articial insemination

(AI), the length of examination time

is increased as the entire uterus must

> n-a

> 30-a a

> 33-a a

endometrium

ALLAntoic FLuid

ALLAntoic FLuid

mucus within uterine Lumen

conceptus

conceptus

Amniotic

membrAne

Amniotic

membrAne


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be carefully evaluated to condently

diagnose a non-pregnant state.

Additionally, diagnosis of pregnancy

at this stage should be considered

with caution due to typically high

rates of early embryonic loss. Most

operators can diagnose pregnancy

under farm conditions quickly, easily

and accurately by day 30 through the

use of transrectal ultrasonography.

Therefore, it is generally advisable

to perform ultrasound examinations

for pregnancy diagnosis around

day 30 post-breeding/AI.A positive diagnosis of pregnancy

may be made without visualisation

of the embryo on ultrasound

examination. This is done through

identication of allantoic uid, foetal

membranes and placentomes.

> 42-a a

> 45-a a

> pla

pLAcentome

pLAcentome

FoetAL

heAd

Foetus

FoetAL

heAd

FoetAL

trunk

FoetAL

trunk

Amniotic

membrAne

Amniotic

membrAne

Amniotic

membrAne


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Twins

The development of twin pregnancies

in dairy cattle is undesirable due to

the resultant reduction in overall herdreproductive efciency and therefore

farm protability. Twinning in cows may

result in higher rates of embryonic death

and late term abortion, premature and/

or difcult calving and the development

of various metabolic diseases such as

ketosis. Therefore, early identication

of a cow carrying twins is important to

minimise potential costs to the farm.

Ultrasound is an effective tool as twin

pregnancies can be accurately identied

using transrectal ultrasonography

by 40-70 days post breeding/AI. It

is important to evaluate the ovaries

at the time of pregnancy diagnosis

as the presence of two or more CL

gives an indication of cows whichmay develop a twin pregnancy.

> t cL a

> t

ovAry

corporA LuteA

Foetus Foetus


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Foetal Sex

Transrectal ultrasonography is

useful for determining foetal sex by

evaluating the location of the genitaltubercle (precursor to the penis and

clitoris). Ultrasound can be used to

accurately determine foetal sex from

day 55-60 post ovulation. The genital

tubercle is located between the tail

and hind limbs in the female. In the

male foetus, it is located just caudal to

the point where the umbilicus enters

the body. Accurate identication offoetal sex may be useful for dairy

herd management programmes.

> Fal f

> mal f

Front

Limbs

tAiL

umbiLicAL

cord

genitAL

tubercLe

genitAL

tubercLe

hindLimbs

hindLimbs


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Reproductive

Tract Pathology

Ultrasonography is also useful forinvestigating members of the herd

with poor fertility due to cyclic

abnormalities or pathologic conditions

affecting the ovaries and/or uterus.

Conditions affecting fertility such as

cystic ovarian disease and endometritis/

pyometra can be accurately identied

and treated appropriately.

cystic ovAriAn diseAse

Cystic ovarian disease is an important

condition to consider, particularly in

dairy cattle herd management, as it

results in abnormal cyclic activity and

a subsequent decrease in fertility. This

condition is traditionally dened as

the presence of uid-lled structures

greater than 25mm in diameter on

the ovary for longer than 10 days

in the absence of a functional CL.

The two types of ovarian cysts

resulting in reproductive/cyclic

dysfunction are follicular cysts and

luteal cysts. The criteria generally

used to dene the type of cyst are:• Fllla - smooth,

thin wall (less than 3mm)

• Lal - thicker wall

(greater than 3mm) due to

a lining of luteal tissue

However, not all cysts will adhere

strictly to these criteria. Therefore,

it is important to fully examine the

entire reproductive tract and also

take into consideration additional

> Fllla

> Lal

thin wALL

thicker wALL oF LuteAL

tissue

45 mm

diAmeter

FoLLicuLAr

cyst

34 mm

diAmeter

LuteAL cyst


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criteria such as cow behaviour and

plasma progesterone concentrations if

ultrasound appearance of the cyst does

not provide a denitive diagnosis.

endometritis/pyometrA

Endometritis is a common condition

affecting dairy cattle which negatively

affects reproductive performance. Clinical

endometritis is dened as purulent or

mucopurulent uterine discharge present

approximately 21 to 26 days postpartum.

Subclinical cases of endometritis maynot have uterine discharge, however

fertility is negatively affected. Transrectal

ultrasonography may be used to evaluate

cows for signs of endometritis. Indicators

of endometritis on ultrasound exam

include accumulation of intrauterine

uid containing echogenic particles

(‘snowy’ appearance) and thickening of

the endometrium due to endometrialoedema and inammation. However,

ultrasonography alone does not always

provide a denitive diagnosis of

endometritis.

Pyometra is generally dened as an

accumulation of pus within the uterus.

Compared to manual palpation, the

differences between uterine enlargementdue to pregnancy and pyometra are easily

recognisable on ultrasound examination.

While foetal uids in the uterus appear

anechoic, pyometra appears as distension

of the uterine lumen with contents of

mixed echogenicity. Additionally, there

will be no evidence of a foetus, foetal

membranes or placentomes on ultrasound

examination of a cow with pyometra.

> e

> pa

(muco)puruLent mAteriAL

in uterine Lumen

puruLent mAteriAL in

uterine Lumen

uterus

uterus


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Cattle Gestational Age Tables

a

15 54

20 65

25 73

30 80

35 86

40 91

45 9550 99

55 103

60 106

70 112

80 117

90 121

100 125

110 128

120 132

a

15 56

20 69

25 79

30 87

35 94

40 100

45 10550 110

60 118

70 125

80 131

a

15 34

20 39

25 42

30 45

35 48

40 50

45 5250 54

60 57

70 60

80 62

90 64

100 66

110 67

120 69

130 70

140 71

150 72

160 73

170 74

180 75

a

25 62

30 70

35 76

40 81

45 86

50 90

55 9060 98

70 104

80 109

90 114

100 118

110 122

120 126

130 129

140 132

trunk diameer head diameer crown rump leng head leng


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Glossary of Terms

Alla – an outgrowth of the hindgut of

the early embryo which forms a signicant

part of the placenta

A – the absence of echoes resulting

in a black appearance on the ultrasound

image

A – non-occurrence of oestrus so

the female is not sexually receptive at any

time during the reproductive cycle

A – a cavity or chamber

cal – eshy masses on the wall of the

uterus which are the points of placentalattachment

c – the product of conception at

any stage of development, from fertilisation

of the ovum to birth; includes embryo/foetus,

extraembryonic membranes and the placenta

c l (plural - corpora lutea) – a

progesterone secreting glandular mass in

the ovary formed from the wall of an ovarian

follicle which has matured and released itsovum

cl –elevations of the foetal

membranes (placenta) which adhere to the

maternal caruncles

e – the characteristic ability

of a tissue to reect ultrasound waves and

produce echoes

e - containing structures that reect

high-frequency sound waves and thus can beimaged by ultrasonography

e – an animal in the early stages of

development which has not taken on an

anatomical form that is recognisable as a

member of the species

e l – the early embryonic

vesicle before the allantois has developed

and encircled the embryo

e – the mucous membrane lining

the uterus

F – the unborn young of a mammal that

is considered to have identiable features of

a given species

Flll – the ovum and its encasing cells, at

any stage of development

ialal – within the lumen

ilaal – on the same side

k – metabolic disorder characterised

by reduced milk yield, loss of body weight,

inappetance and possibly nervous signs

L – the cavity within a tubular organ

Lal – pertaining to or having the

properties of the corpus luteum

ml – containing both mucous and

pus

m – the smooth muscle layer of

the uterus

o l – regularly occurring periods

during which the female is sexually active andreceptive (oestrus) separated by periods in

which the female is not receptive

o – the time during the reproductive

cycle when the female displays interest in

mating

o - the female reproductive cell which,

after fertilisation, is able to develop into a

new member of the same species

pla – around the time of ovulation

pla – the cotyledon plus the

caruncle

p – hormone produced by the

corpus luteum to promote implantation of the

conceptus and maintenance of pregnancy

pl – containing or forming pus

sa – the tissue forming the support

structure, as opposed to the functional part,of an organ

slal – without clinical manifestations


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References

Barlund CS, Carruthers TD, Waldner CL

and Palmer CW (2008). A comparison

of diagnostic techniques for

postpartumendometritis in dairy cattle.

Theriogenology ,69: 714–723.

Blood DC and Studdert VP (1999). Saunders

comprehensive veterinary dictionary. London:

WB Saunders.

Boyd JS and Omran SN (1991). Diagnostic

ultrasonography of the bovine female

reproductive tract. In Practice, 13: 109-118.

Chaffaux S, Reddy GNS, Valon F and ThibierM (1986). Transrectal real-time ultrasound

scanning for diagnosing pregnancy and

for monitoring embryonic mortality in

dairy cattle. Animal Reproduction Science,

10: 193-200.

Curran S, Kastelic JP and Ginther OJ (1989).

Determining sex of the bovine fetus by

ultrasonic assessment of the relative location

of the genital tubercle. Animal Reproduction

Science, 19:217-227.

Douthwaite R and Dobson H (2000).

Comparison of different methods of

diagnosis of cystic ovarian disease in cattle

and an assessment of its treatment with a

progesterone-releasing intravaginaI device.

Veterinary Record, 147: 355-359.

Edmondson AJ, Fissore RA, Pashen RL

and Bondurant RH (1986). The use of

ultrasonography for the study of the bovine

reproductive tract I. Normal and pathological

ovarian structures. Animal Reproduction

Science, 12: 157-165.

Farin PW, Youngquist RS, Parfet JR

and Garverick HA (1992). Diagnosis of

luteal and follicular ovarian cysts by

palpation per rectum and linear-array

ultrasonography in dairy cows. Journal of the

American Veterinary Medical Association.

200 (8): 1085-1089.

Fissore RA, Edmondson AJ, Pashen RL

and Bondurant RH (1986). The use of

ultrasonography for the study of the bovine

reproductive tract II. Non-pregnant, pregnant

and pathological conditions of the uterus.

Animal Reproduction Science, 12: 167-177.

Fricke PM (2002). Scanning the future—

ultrasonography as a reproductive

management tool for dairy cattle. Journal of

Dairy Science, 85:1918–1926.

Kastelic JP, Curran S, Pierson RA and Ginther

OJ (1988). Ultrasonic evaluation of the bovine

conceptus. Theriogenology, 29 (1): 39-54.

Kastelic JP, Pierson RA and Ginther OJ

(1990). Ultrasonic morphology of corpora

lutea and central luteal cavities during the

estrous cycle and early pregnancy in heifers.

Theriogenology, 34 (3): 487-498.

Müller E and Wittkowski G (1986).

Visualization of male and female

characteristics of bovine fetuses by real-time

ultrasonics. Theriogenology 25 (4): 571-574.

Pierson RA and Ginther OJ (1984).

Ultrasonography of the bovine ovary.


Pierson RA and Ginther OJ (1984).

Ultrasonography for the detection of

pregnancy and study of embryonic

development in heifers. Theriogenology,

22 (2): 225-233.

Reeves JJ, Rantanen NWand Hauserb M(1984). Transrectal real-time ultrasound

scanning of the cow reproductive tract.



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The Easi-Scan has been designed and manufactured by

BCF Technology Ltd.

For more information and to arrange a demonstration,

call +44 (0)1506 460023

or email f@fl.

Easi-Scan is a revolutionary veterinary rectal

scanner designed to perform effectively in the

harsh environment in which it is likely to beused. Full battery operation removes the need

for electrical power supplies and substantially

reduces the set-up time before you start

scanning.

Easi-Scan only has ve buttons, so it is very easy

to ensure that the system settings are optimised.

Easi-Scan can be used in different congurations,

with the option of viewing the ultrasound images

on either the Easi-Scan Remote Display, wrist

display or BUG viewing devices.


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> bug v d

Various options available. The highly

ergonomic heads-up displays allow

you total mobility while viewing real

time ultrasound images right before

your eyes. No more need to look away

to view monitor screens. Best of all,

they’re daylight readable.

> i

Probe introducer to avoid the need to

insert the arm into the rectum.

> w- Lcd la

Available for wrist or machine

mounting.

> ea-sa r dla

The image is sent from the scanner

to the remote monitor via radio-wave

transmission, removing the need for

wires between the scanner and the

monitor. The Easi-Scan Remote Display

uses the same type of replaceable

batteries as Easi-Scan.

Easi-Scan congurations


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BCF Technology Ltd

UK Tel: +44 (0)1506 460023IRE Tel: +353 (0)429 320 070

US Tel: +1 (507) 529 8200

www.bcftechnology.com

Documents

Bovine Reproduction Booklet UK A5 16pp Text 10