ESTIMATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE USING ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT OF FOETAL PARAMETERS IN THE WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOAT

摘要

The objective of this study was to estimate gestational age by B-mode ultrasound measurement of foetal crown-rump length (CRL), Bi-parietal diameter (BPD) and placentome diameter (PD) in the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. The study involved ten adultWAD goats consisting of six does and four bucks. Vaginal smear was collected daily and breeding day 0 was taken as the day of first appearance of spermatozoa in the stained vaginal smear. Ultrasonographic scans were conducted using 3.5MHz transabdominalconvex transducer every 15 days between day 60 and 135 post breeding. All foetal measurements significantly (p<0.01) correlated with gestational age. The coefficient of determination (r~2) for CRL, BPD and PD were 98.4%, 96.9% and 94% respectively. Gestational equations were established as follows: CRL = 0.073y -1.112; BPD = 0.02ly + 0.018; PD = 0.017y + 0.333 (where y = estimated gestational age in days). The results indicated that ultrasonic measurements of CRL, BPD and PD in the West African dwarf goat could be used to estimate gestational age for proper antenatal care.