Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce diagnostic images of objects inside the body. The sound waves are emitted from a transducer, bounce off internal organs and tissues, and are used to create an image. Ultrasound is commonly used to diagnose diseases and determine pregnancy in animals like sheep and goats. It can detect pregnancy as early as 35 days and determine the number of fetuses. Performing ultrasound on sheep and goats involves placing the transducer on the right side of the animal to get clear images without obstruction from the rumen.

2. WHAT IS ULTRASOUND?
• THE USE OF HIGH FREQUENCY SOUND WAVES TO CAPTURE DIAGNOSTIC IMAGES
• SOUND WAVES ARE RELEASED FROM THE TRANSDUCER
• THE WAVES COME INTO CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT IN THE BODY
• WAVES HIT THE OBJECT, BOUNCE BACK AND AN IMAGE IS PRODUCED

3. WHY ULTRASOUND?
• DIAGNOSING DISEASES
• HEART DISEASE, LIVER DISEASE, LUNG DISEASE
• THE LIST OF DISEASES ULTRASOUND CAN DIAGNOSE IS ENDLESS
• PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS

4. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS IN SHEEP AND
GOATS
• WHEN CAN IT BE DONE?
•
PREGNANCY CAN BE DETECTED AS EARLY AS 35 DAYS OF GESTATION
• HOW IS ULTRASOUND PERFORMED?
•
•
ULTRASOUND PROBE IS PLACED TO THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT REAR FLANK
ANIMAL IS REQUIRED TO BE HELD STILL
• WHY IS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ANIMAL USED?
•
THE RUMEN SITS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND CAN OBSTRUCT VIEW OF THE UTERUS

5. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS IN SHEEP AND
GOATS
• WHY IS ULTRASOUND DONE?
• DETERMINE IF THE ANIMAL IS PREGNANT!!!
• MANAGEMENT DECISIONS CAN BE MADE DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS
•
•
NONPREGNANT ANIMALS CAN BE SOLD
NONPREGNANT ANIMALS HAVE LOWER NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS – ARE FED LOWER QUALITY FEED

6. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS OF SHEEP AND
GOATS
• WHY IS ULTRASOUND DONE?
•
ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF FETUSES
•
•
ANIMALS WITH MULTIPLE BIRTHS REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL OF NUTRITION
THESE ANIMALS CAN BE SEPARATED AND FED ADDITIONAL FEED
•
OBTAIN A GENERAL TIME FRAME OF WHEN ANIMALS WILL GIVE BIRTH
•
BECAUSE PRODUCERS THINK IT IS NEAT TO KNOW!

7. ULTRASOUND IN ACTION
•
•
AN ASSISTANT IS RESTRAINING THE ANIMAL
ULTRASOUND PROBE IS PLACED TO THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT REAR
FLANK

8. ULTRASOUND TERMS
HYPERECHOIC = WHITE AREAS
HYPOECHOIC = GRAY AREAS
ANECHOIC = BLACK AREAS
THE COLOR OF THE IMAGE PRODUCED ALLOWS US TO DETERMINE WHAT THE OBJECT IS AND IF IT APPEARS
NORMAL

9. PREGNANT? WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• WHITE/GRAY AREAS = INDICATES VARIOUS STRUCTURES WITHIN THE ABDOMEN
• BLACK AREAS = INDICATES FLUID (AMNIONIC FLUID WHICH SURROUNDS THE GROWING FETUS)
• BLACK AREAS W/ WHITE AREAS IN THE CENTER = INDICATES THE FETUS WITHIN THE AMNIONIC FLUID
• GET READY FOR THE QUIZ!!

10. Note the black areas
Note the 2 white dots at 1 o’clock
– might it be a portion of the
fetus?
Pregnant?

11. Red = Fluid
Blue = Fetus
Pregnant 40 days!

12. Note the black areas
Look for the 2 white
circles at 12 - 1 o’clock
Any Guesses?

13. Red = Fluid
Blue = Baby
Pregnant 45 days!

14. See the black circle?
Wonder what that white
thing is at 3 o’clock?

15. Red = Fluid
Blue = Fetus
The white lines are
the ribs of the fetus

16. Find the black circle
Look for the white object
within the black circle
Any guesses?

17. Pregnant!

18. Use your imagination and
remember the basics!
No help on this one!

19. Pregnant 65 days!
Head = 3 o’clock
Spine = 12 o’clock
Legs = 6 o’clock

20. Can you see me?
What are those bright
white dots at 7-8 o’clock?

21. Here I am!
Those bright white things
are my ribs!

22. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!