Estimation of gestational age in Egyptian native goats by ultrasonographic fetometry

The main aim of the present study was to estimate the gestational age of Egyptian goats by B-mode ultrasound measurement of embryonic or fetal parts throughout pregnancy. Trans-rectal (TR) ultrasonography (7 MHz) was carried out on 15 pregnant Egyptian does at Day 10 post mating on alternate days until Day 25 and then once at 3-5-day intervals until Day 50. Trans-abdominal (TA) ultrasonography (3.5-5 MHz) was carried out on the same animals from Days 25 to 130 at 3-5-day intervals. After imaging the embryo or the fetus, the following parameters were measured: length of the embryo or fetus (CRL), heart rate (FHR), biparital diameter (BPD), trunk diameter (TD), placentome size (PS), umbilical cord diameter (UCD) and femur length (FL). The average of days at which the embryonic vesicle was first determined by TR and TA ultrasonography was 16.98+/-1.97 and 27.87+/-3.48, respectively. The embryo proper with a beating heart was first determined by TR and TA ultrasonography at an average of 22.36+/-2.66 and 30.36+/-4.75 days, respectively. All the fetal measures were significantly (P<0.0001) correlated with the gestational age. With the exception of fetal heart rate (R(2)=0.551), all the measured fetal structures were highly correlated (R(2)> or =90) with the gestational age. In conclusion, the age of embryo or fetus in Egyptian does can be estimated by ultrasound measuring the crown rump length, biparital diameter, trunk diameter, placentome size, umbilical cord diameter and femur length.