It is a review of PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE AND BUFFALOS. This slides were presented in Clinical conference at IAAS/TU Rampur Campus Chitwan, Nepal.

1. WELCOME
5/16/20151

2. I. Dhakal
B.V.Sc.&A.H. VIIIth Semester, TU/IAAS, Rampur, Chitwan
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF
TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY
FOR REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF
CATTLE AND BUFFALOS
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3. Abstract
Evaluation of the reproductive tract is an essential aspect of both Cattle and Buffalo herd
management. Transrectal palpation examinations of the cow’s genital tract are currently used
by most veterinarians involved in reproductive management in Nepal. Focusing on these
facets, a present review has been carried out mainly aiming the knowledge of the Ultrasound
and its potential to obtain an optimal accuracy in the diagnosis of physiological and
pathological ovarian structures. This review presents the main features of ultrasonographic
characteristics of follicles, corpora lutea (with or without a cavity), follicular and lutenized
cysts and the reliability. The result of review reveled that Practical applications of transrectal
ultrasonography in cattle and buffalo practice include evaluation of cyclicity status, accurate
diagnosis of uterine and ovarian pathology, early identification of non-pregnant cattle,
detection of twin pregnancies and embryonic mortality, and response to therapy or estrus
synchronization treatments. Study also revealed that diagnostics can be performed earlier
and more accurately with transrectal ultrasonography than with transrectal palpation.
Portable, functional, and cost-effective ultrasound equipment is now commercially available.
It’s utilization by practitioners will greatly benefit to the dairy industry.
Key words: Transrectal Ultrasonography, Reproductive management, Transrectal palpation
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4. Introduction
 Evaluation of the reproductive tract is an essential aspect of
both Cattle and Buffalo herd management.
 The real-time ultrasonography is a recent development for
studying reproductive functions in animal scieces.
(Mohamed, 2010)
 Application of real time ultrasonography in veterinary
practice has developed to become the most efficient
diagnostic tool for managing reproduction.
 Transrectal palpation, ultrasonography is commonly used
to examine and evaluate the cow’s reproductive tract.
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5. Continue...
 Transrectal ultrasonography 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.
 Practical applications of ultrasound by bovine practitioners for
routine reproductive examinations of cattle is the next contribution
this technology is positioned to make to the livestock industry.
 Early pregnancy diagnosis is important in reproductive management
in order to rebreed the non-pregnant animals as soon as possible.
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6.  Ultrasonography is also useful for investigating
members of the herd with poor fertility due to cyclic
abnormalities or pathologic conditions affecting the
ovaries and/or uterus
 Ultrasonography is a simple, reliable, non-invasive
imaging technique without side effects and since its
development in the early 1950s
 Palpation of the reproductive tract is the most
common approach to pregnancy diagnosis in Nepal.
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7. Objectives of Review
General Objectives
 To know the practical application of Ultrasound and its
potential to to diagnose physiological and pathological
ovarian structure.
Specific Objective
 To know the feature of different reproductive structures.
 To evaluate the Transrectal palpation and transrectal
Ultrasonography use in diagnostic purpose.
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8. Features of Ultrasonographic
characteristics
Follicles
 Appear as a dark ,delineated
anechogenic structure surroundded
by fine wall and with diameter less
than 25mm
 Hyperechogenic area at distal end
help in demarcation
Ovarian follicles
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9. Corpus Luteum
 Echogenicity increase during diestrus
 Mature CL appear as grayish,
echogenic area with a line of
demarcation visible between it and
ovarian stroma
 Diameter of central cavity vary from 2
to 22 mm ,highest at 10th day
Corpus
Luteum
Follicles
Corpus
luteum
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10. Uterus
Non-pregnant uterus
 Different echogenic appearances
depending on the stage of the oestrous
cycle.
 Bovine in oestrus: the endometrium
becomes oedematous , endometrial folds
become more prominent.
 periovulatory period: the uterine lumen
appears anechoic due to mucus
accumulation.
Mucus within uterine lumen
Endometrium
Non-pregnant uterus
Allantoic fluid
Conceptus
Amniotic
membrane
30-day pregnancy5/16/201510

11. Twin
 Twin pregnancies can be
accurately identified using
transrectal ultrasonography by
40–70 days post breeding/AI
 The presence of two or more CL
gives an indication of cows
which may develop a twin
pregnancy
Foetus
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12. Foetal Sex
 Foetal sex is determine by evaluating
the location of the genital tubercle
(precursor to the penis and clitoris).
 Foetal sex is accuratelydetermine
from day 55–60 post ovulation
 Accurate identification of foetal sex
may be useful for dairy herd
management programmes.
Front
limbs
Umbilical
cord
Hind limbs
Genital
tubercle
Male foetus
Female foetus
HindlimbsTail
Genital
tubercle
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13. Reproductive tract pathology
Conditions affecting fertility such as cystic ovarian
disease and endometritis/pyometra can be
accurately identified and treated appropriately.
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14. Ovarian cyst
(more than 25mm)
Follicular cyst
 Thin walled, uniformly fluctuating
likely to rupture during
manipulation
Anechogenic, Thickness of the wall is
less than 3mm
Lutealcyst(30-76%)
 Thicker wall made by luteal tissue ,
feel firmer ,hyperechogenic distal
wall with wall thikness more than
Thicker wall of luteal tissue
34 mm diameter
luteal cyst
Luteal cyst
45 mm diameter
follicular cyst
Thin wall
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15. Endometritis/pyometra
Endometritis
 Clinical endometritis : purulent or
mucopurulent uterine discharge present
 Subclinical endometritis : no uterine
discharge, fertility is negatively affected
 Ultrasound exam include accumulation
of intrauterine fluid containing
echogenic particles (‘snowy’
appearance)
 Thickening of the endometrium due to
endometrial oedema and inflammation.
Uterus
(Muco) purulent material in
uterine lumen
Endometritis
Pyometra
Purulent material in uterine
lumen
Uterus
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16. Pyometra
 Compared to manual palpation, the differences between
uterine enlargement due to pregnancy and pyometra are
easily recognisable
 While foetal fluids in the uterus appear anechoic,
pyometra appears as distension of the uterine lumen with
contents of mixed echogenicity.
 If there is no evidence of a foetus, foetal membranes or
placentomes on ultrasound examination - cow with
pyometra. 5/16/201516

17. Table . Day of first detection of ultrasonographically identifiable
characteristics of the bovine conceptus (Adapted from Curran et al., 1986).
First day detected
Characteristic Mean Range
Embryo proper 20.3 19 to 24
Heartbeat 20.9 19 to 24
Allantois 23.2 22 to 25
Spinal cord 29.1 26 to 33
Forelimb buds 29.1 28 to 31
Anmion 29.5 28 to 33
Eye orbit 30. 2 29 to 33
Hindlimb buds 31.2 30 to 33
Placentomes 35.2 33 to 38
Split hooves 44.6 42 to 49
Fetal movement 44.8 42 to 50
Ribs 52.8 51 to 55
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18. S.N. Ultrasonography Transrectal palpation
1 Done with specific machine Done manually with hand
2 Require simple handlingprocedures
&interpretation
Require high expertisation
3 Pd detected in earlier 26 day Only by expertise as early as 30’s day
4 Foetus can be visualised Foetus cannot be visualised
5 Viability can be checked Viability cannot be checked
6 Can detect the sex of the foetus Cannot differentiate the sex of the foetus
7 Can detect the previously died and recently
died foetus
Cannot differentiate that
8 Pyometra can be determined Pyometra cannot be determined
9 Age of the foetus also can be determined Age of the foetus cannot be determined
10 Less risky as there is no disturbance to the
foetus even in early pregnancy
High risk is associated as there is disturbance to the
foetus in early pregnancy
11 Less chances of abortion due to disturbances of
ultrasonography
More chances of abortion and deformed foetus if not
done properly
12 Early ,exat and correct diagnosis of reproductive
disorder prevents economic loss
Less chances to save such economic loss as compared to
transrectal ultrasonography
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19. Conclusion
 Transrectal ultrasonography is a very effective
diagnostic tool for evaluating reproductive status
in dairy cattle; timing and accuracy of the
diagnosis are the most important advantages.
 Small and portable scanners with affordable
prices is expected that use of this technology by
practitioners will greatly benefit the dairy
industry (cattle and buffalo production)
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20. Conclusion....
The Practical applications of transrectal
ultrasonography in cattle and buffalo practice
include evaluation of cyclicity status, accurate
diagnosis of uterine and ovarian pathology, early
identification of non-pregnant cattle, detection
of twin pregnancies and embryonic mortality
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21. Conclusion....
 Transrectal ultrasonography performed
diagnostics earlier and more accurately than
with transrectal palpation.
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22. References
 Hanzen , Ch., M. Pieterse , O. Scenczi and M. Drost , The Veterinary Journal, 2000, Relative
accuracy of the identification of ovarian structures in the cow by Ultrasonography and palpation
per rectum.
 Cliff Lamb , G. , and Paul M. Fricke, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin,
Madison, Ultrasound – early pregnancy diagnosis and fetal sexing.
 Colazo, M.G,, Ambrose DJ, Kastelic JP, Practical uses for transrectal ultrasonography in
reproductive management of cattle , Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development,
Edmonton, AB, T6H 5Z2, Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Centre.
 Kimberly, P. ,, 2012, Bovine reproduction Clinical ultrasound booklet with Easi-Scan, BCF
technology.
 Fricke, P.M., and G. Cliff Lamb , Proceedings, The Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle
Workshop, September 5-6, 2002, Manhattan, Kansas Practical applications of Ultrasound for
Reproductive management of beef and dairy cattle.
 Medana, S., Mohamed,, A.M.AbdEl-Aty , Advances in ultrasonography and its applications in
domestic ruminants and other farm animals reproduction
 Giuseppina, T, Maria, Journal of Buffalo Science, 2012, Ultrasonography and Reproduction in
Buffalo.
5/16/201522

23. Aknowledgement
 Asst. Prof. Dr. Bhumi Nandan Devkota
 Dr. Krishna Kaphle
 Chet Raj Pathak
 Grihamani Nepal
 Ganesh Pun
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24. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE
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