Determination of gestational age in dairy cattle using transrectal ultrasound measurements of placentome size

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between placentome characteristic and gestational age in dairy cattle from day 60 until day 170 of gestation.

This objective has been structured in such a way that it will address the following three research questions:

-What is the relationship between the length, the perpendicular length and area of the placentomes measured through ultrasound scanning and the gestation age?

-Which independent factors (breed, age, farm or horn) have a significant effect on the length and perpendicular length of the placentomes measured through ultrasound scanning?

-To what extend are placentome characteristics measured by ultrasound scanning useful for predicting the gestation age.