Ultrasound pregnancy scanning and its benefits in sheep : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the Diploma in Farm Management at Lincoln University

Abstract

Real time ultrasonic scanning can be used to diagnose pregnancy and determine fetal numbers in sheep and has advantages over approaches in terms of safety, accuracy and rapidity. Applied between 45-100 days of gestation the accuracy of diagnosis of pregnancy should be virtually 100% and that of fetal number determination of the order of 96-98% or greater. Rates of scanning vary from 80-120 or more ewes per hour. The principal benefits of the use of the technique include the ability to relate feed inputs in late pregnancy to fetal numbers thus improving the efficiency of use of feedstuffs. Feeding in relation to fetal numbers, also offers a means of manipulating lamb birth weights and can lead to substantial reductions in levels of mortality of both ewes and lambs.