Bovine Pregnancy Diagnosis Flashcards
What is an “open cow”?
A cow that isn’t pregnant.
What type of cow will we preg check more and why?
Dairy cows because they are more likely to lose their pregnancy.
Why do we want to ID non-pregnant dairy cows?
So they can be bred again.
Why do we want to ID non-pregnant beef cows?
So they can be culled
When do we preg check dairy cows?
30 days
60 days
at dry off
When do we preg check beef cows?
At weaning
What is the difference between breeding of beef and dairy cows?
Dairy cows you want some producing milk all the time, beef cows you want a uniform crop to send to market.
What is an important economic point to get across?
You’re valuable because you can help spot non-productive cows and allow the farmer to get rid of them and save money.
What are 2 “producer’s methods” for determining if a cow is pregnant?
Exposure to a bull
Clinical signs of anestrus 18-24hrs post mating
Why is the “producer’s method” for determining pregnancy flawed?
Subject to error because some cows won’t cycle again, and so they don’t come back into heat.
What are the 4 cardinal signs of pregnancy?
Fetal membrane slip
Amniotic vesicle
Placentoes
Fetus
NOTE: MUST ID one of these to diagnose pregnancy
What is the landmark of palpation?
The cervix
What is the earliest sign of pregnancy?
Membrane slip
What is the membrane slip?
Chorioallantois is “slipped” when palpating the pregnant horn.
When is the amniotic vesicle first palpable?
~32-35 days
When are the placentomes first palpable?
Around 80 days
How many placentomes does a cow have?
~120 arranged in 4 rows
NOTE: Older cows may have them start to blend, but always this many
How many placentomes must you feel before coming to a conclusion?
3
Where are the most consistent placentomes?
The ones at the base of the horn
When is the fetus first palpable?
55-65 days
At what gestational age is the fetus at the bottom of the abdomen?
Around 6 months, will be difficult to palpate here.
What are 5 supportive signs of pregnancy?
Asymmetry of uterine horns Thinning and tone of uterine wall Fixation of cervix Fremitus of middle uterine artery Presence of a CL
What must you remember about the 5 supportive signs of pregnancy?
They are NOT the 4 cardinal signs, you must still find one of these to make your dx.
If you have fixation of the cervix, what can you do to determine pregnancy?
Reach past and feel for placentomes
What is a big reason you can’t use fremitus to dx pregnancy?
Pregnancy can abort, and this will remain for a while after.
How do you tell between the middle uterine artery and the iliac artery?
Iliac is immovable, middle uterine artery is movable.
At what stage is estimating the age of the fetus most accurate?
During the 1st half of gestation
What should you always be willing to do?
Say “let’s re-check her” if you’re not sure.
If using ultrasound, when can you diagnose a pregnancy and what are you detecting?
Can dx at 24 days by detecting a heartbeat
What are 3 other tests for pregnancy?
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.
