Ultrasonographic evaluation of early embryonic

Early embryonic mortality can be monitored using various techniques and probably the most accurate one is ultrasonography (USG). Since the widespread implementation of transrectal USG for reproductive research in cattle (Griffin and Ginther, 1992), several studies have reported rates of embryonic mortality during early gestation under field conditions. Vasconcelos et al. (1997) characterized embryonic mortality at various stages of gestation using transrectal USG and reported pregnancy losses of 11% (per cent) from 28 to 42 d (day/s), 6% from 42 to 56 d, and 2% from 56 to 98 d post AI (Artificial Insemination), suggesting that the rate of loss is higher early during gestation and decreases as gestation proceeds. Early pregnancy diagnosis can improve reproductive performance by decreasing the interval between successive AI services and coupling a non-pregnancy diagnosis with an aggressive strategy to rapidly rebreed these animals (Fricke, 2002).