Bovine Pregnancy Diagnosis

Question 1

What is an “open cow”?

Answer 1

A cow that isn’t pregnant.

Question 2

What type of cow will we preg check more and why?

Answer 2

Dairy cows because they are more likely to lose their pregnancy.

Question 3

Why do we want to ID non-pregnant dairy cows?

Answer 3

So they can be bred again.

Question 4

Why do we want to ID non-pregnant beef cows?

Answer 4

So they can be culled

Question 5

When do we preg check dairy cows?

Answer 5

30 days
60 days
at dry off

Question 6

When do we preg check beef cows?

Answer 6

At weaning

Question 7

What is the difference between breeding of beef and dairy cows?

Answer 7

Dairy cows you want some producing milk all the time, beef cows you want a uniform crop to send to market.

Question 8

What is an important economic point to get across?

Answer 8

You’re valuable because you can help spot non-productive cows and allow the farmer to get rid of them and save money.

Question 9

What are 2 “producer’s methods” for determining if a cow is pregnant?

Answer 9

Exposure to a bull

Clinical signs of anestrus 18-24hrs post mating

Question 10

Why is the “producer’s method” for determining pregnancy flawed?

Answer 10

Subject to error because some cows won’t cycle again, and so they don’t come back into heat.

Question 11

What are the 4 cardinal signs of pregnancy?

Answer 11

Fetal membrane slip
Amniotic vesicle
Placentoes
Fetus

NOTE: MUST ID one of these to diagnose pregnancy

Question 12

What is the landmark of palpation?

Answer 12

The cervix

Question 13

What is the earliest sign of pregnancy?

Answer 13

Membrane slip

Question 14

What is the membrane slip?

Answer 14

Chorioallantois is “slipped” when palpating the pregnant horn.

Question 15

When is the amniotic vesicle first palpable?

Answer 15

~32-35 days

Question 16

When are the placentomes first palpable?

Answer 16

Around 80 days

Question 17

How many placentomes does a cow have?

Answer 17

~120 arranged in 4 rows

NOTE: Older cows may have them start to blend, but always this many

Question 18

How many placentomes must you feel before coming to a conclusion?

Answer 18

3

Question 19

Where are the most consistent placentomes?

Answer 19

The ones at the base of the horn

Question 20

When is the fetus first palpable?

Answer 20

55-65 days

Question 21

At what gestational age is the fetus at the bottom of the abdomen?

Answer 21

Around 6 months, will be difficult to palpate here.

Question 22

What are 5 supportive signs of pregnancy?

Answer 22

Asymmetry of uterine horns
Thinning and tone of uterine wall
Fixation of cervix
Fremitus of middle uterine artery
Presence of a CL

Question 23

What must you remember about the 5 supportive signs of pregnancy?

Answer 23

They are NOT the 4 cardinal signs, you must still find one of these to make your dx.

Question 24

If you have fixation of the cervix, what can you do to determine pregnancy?

Answer 24

Reach past and feel for placentomes

Question 25

What is a big reason you can’t use fremitus to dx pregnancy?

Answer 25

Pregnancy can abort, and this will remain for a while after.

Question 26

How do you tell between the middle uterine artery and the iliac artery?

Answer 26

Iliac is immovable, middle uterine artery is movable.

Question 27

At what stage is estimating the age of the fetus most accurate?

Answer 27

During the 1st half of gestation

Question 28

What should you always be willing to do?

Answer 28

Say “let’s re-check her” if you’re not sure.

Question 29

If using ultrasound, when can you diagnose a pregnancy and what are you detecting?

Answer 29

Can dx at 24 days by detecting a heartbeat

Question 30

What are 3 other tests for pregnancy?

Answer 30

Bovine pregnancy specific protein B
Progesterone (test blood or milk)
Estrone sulfate (milk and blood)

NOTE: Estrone sulfate is not practical unless animal can’t be palpated.