3. To identify non-pregnant animals soon after mating
or inseminations so that production time lost from
infertility may be reduced by appropriate treatment
or culling.
To certify animals for sale or insurance purposes.
To reduce waste in breeding programs using
expensive hormonal techniques.
To assist in the economic management of livestock.
5. I. Management methods
• Failure to return to estrus – absence of estrus 24-
26 days post AI
• Persistence of CL – failure of regression of CL
even after 24 day post AI
• Mammary gland development – best observed in
primigravids (4-5 months post AI)
• Abdominal Ballotment – Possible in small breeds
like Jersy and also in sheep and goat.
6. II. Clinical methods
A. Rectal palpation:
Material required:
• Protective clothing comprising of rubber or
plastic sleeve
• apron or gown
• gum boots
• goggle
7. Pregnancy diagnosis by rectal palpation
1. Unilateral horn enlargement
2. Fluctuation
3. Slipping of fetal membranes
4. Cotyledons
8. Pregnancy diagnosis by rectal palpation
5. Palpation of the cervix
6. Hypertrophy of the middle uterine artery/
fremitus
7. Position of the uterus
8. Fetal bump
9. III. Radiographic method
Radiography can be used in pregnancy diagnosis
of goat, sheep, swine and dog. This is based
on the fetal skeletal on x-ray plates.
Days :
10. IV. Ultrasound modes
Ultrasonography is a safe, non-invasive, rapid and
easy method for the pregnancy diagnosis and
study of pregnancy progression in domestic and
non-domestic animals.
Real time B-mode ultrasound scanning with linear
rectal probe having 7.5MHz frequency is
optimum for diagnosis of pregnancy in cows.
11. V. Laboratory based methods
Classified as:
1. Chemical method
2. Biological method
3. Hormonal method
12. Chemical method of pregnancy
diagnosis
1. Identification of early pregnancy factor/early
conception factor (EPF)
2. Assay of bovine pregnancy- specific protein B
3. Assay of pregnancy specific protein
14. Hormonal method
i. Progesterone assay in serum and milk
ii. Detection of Estrogen sulphate
iii. Detection of Equine chorionic gonadotropin
(eCG or PMSG)
15. Sl. No. Species Collection day Sample collected
1 Cow/buffalo 22-24 days post AI
Preferably milk /serum
*not reliable since prolonged
diestrus period
2 Ewes 16-18 days post AI
3 Goat 18-21days post AI
4 Horse *16-22 days post AI
5 Pigs 21 days post AI
Progesterone assay in serum and milk: The measurement of progesterone in
serum or milk is most widely used method.
Detectable by RIA technique or ELISA method, cow side pregnancy
diagnostic Kits are also available.
16. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF
PREGNANCY
1. The urinary bladder
2. The rumen
3. Tumors: Lymphocytoma, granulosa cell tumour of the ovary, fat
necrosis in the mesentery, leiomyomas and fibromas of the uterus
may confuse with pregnancy.
4. Mummification of the fetus: On rectal examination, no
placentomes or fetal fluids. A thick uterine wall is tightly contracted
around a hard, firm fetus, with an absence of the typical ‘whirring’
or fremitus in the uterine artery.
5. Pyometra: In pyometra, the uterine walls are usually thick and
heavy and lack tone. The pus tends to gravitate and collect in the
pendant portion of the horns and there is no dorsal bulging of the
horn as is often palpated during early pregnancy. The fetus or
placentomes cannot be palpated and the fetal membranes cannot
be slipped. Fremitus will be absent.
17. 6. Mucometra or hydrometra: Failure to slip or feel fetal membranes by the
absence of the fetus and placentomes, lack of fremitus or whirring or
increase in size of the uterine artery.
White heifer disease – mostly seen in white animals of short horn breed. The
persistence of hymen results in the accumulation of mucus secretion in
the anterior part of the vagina (dilation is posterior to the cervix) leads to
dilation. Diagnosis is by vaginal speculum.
7. Pseudo-pregnancy: commonly encountered in bitch. Symptoms resemble
pregnancy such as distension of abdomen, development of mammary
gland, milk secretion from the teats. Bitch will try to prepare a bed for its
puppies. This condition is due to excessive Progesterone secretion by
multiple CL.
8. Twins: Based on the finding s of equal enlargement of both uterine horns
or uterine arteries, the presence of two amniotic vesicles, or the presence
of 2 fetuses usually one in each horn but occasionally two in one horn.
