Authors : R.M. Abdelghafar , B.H. Ahmed and A.O. Bakhiet
Abstract: Four nullparous pregnant Saanen does of the same age, weight and date of natural mating were involved in this study. Their ages were between 7-31 months; they were housed and managed at the main Center of the Goat Improvement Project, Hilat Kuku, Khartoum State. Estrus was carefully observed and each doe was naturally mated twice in the 1st and 2nd day of estrus, thus the first day of estrus was designated as day 0 of gestation. Ultrasound scanning was done using 3.5 MHz transabdominal convex transducer, from d 46-67 for measuring the Crown-Rump Length (CRL) and from d46-95 for measuring the Bi Parietal diameter (BPD). Gestational equations were established as follows: CRL = 0.464 x- 17.767 ; BPD = 0.055 x- 1.431(Where x is the Estimated Gestational Age (EGA) in days. The correlations between the gestational age(x) and each of the two parameters were found to be highly significant (p< 0.0001). The CRL was some times difficult to measure due to the fast movement of the fetus; because measurements should be taken when the fetus was fully extended. Measuring the BPD became increasingly difficult as pregnancies advanced beyond d95 (3rd trimester).
R.M. Abdelghafar , B.H. Ahmed and A.O. Bakhiet , 2007. Ultrasonic Measurements of Crown-Rump Length and Bi Parietal Diameter to Predict Gestational Age in Saanen Goats . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 454-457.