Ultrasound (Reproductive and Thoracic)

What it is:
• Non-invasive procedure utilizing sound waves to visualize and examinethe reproductive tract of cattle, swine, sheep and goats to determine pregnancy, fertility status and fetal viability, gender and number (only at certain stages of pregnancy).
• Non-invasive procedure to examine the lungs of calves to determine amount of compromise due to pneumonia
Key Benefits:
• Determine if a female conceived in as little as 28 days from breeding
• Confirm viability of fetus and assess the uterine environment
• Determine age and gender of fetus to better plan calving season
• Detect multiple fetuses (at certain stages)
• Make informed culling decisions on pregnancy status and lung capacity
• Determine severity of pneumonia cases to determine treatment needed
How does it work?
• Animals need to be adequately restrained (chute, alley, box)
• Cattle – probe is passed rectally to observe reproductive tract
• Sheep, Goats, Swine – probe is placed on abdomen using alcohol and lubricant to transmit sound waves
• The image is transmitted to either screen or goggles and enables us to see uterine and fetal structures
• For lungs – hair is clipped (if necessary) and alcohol is used to transmit sound waves.
