Early pregnancy diagnosis in ewes by means of transrectal real-time ultrasonography (short communication)

This study was performed to determine the optimum time for early pregnancy diagnosis with transrectal scanning in ewes. A total of 42 ewes was examined, using a real-time 5 MHz linear-transducer from day 19 to 29 (Group I, n=22) and From day 30 to 44 (Group II, n=20) after AI or natural mating. Ultrasonic results were compared with lambing records. Accuracy, sensitivity, specivity, positive and negative predictive values for these tests were 77.3%, 84.2%, 33.3%, 88.9%, 25.0% in Group I, and 80.0%, 74.3%, 85.7%, 90.9% and 53.8% in Group Il, respectively. No significant differences were seen between the accuracy and positive predictive values of Group I and II. It was concluded, that the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis by real-time transrectal ultrasonography can be high already 19 to 29 after AI or natural mating.