Practical Applications of Ultrasound for Reproductive Management of Beef and Dairy Cattle

Introduction O. J. Ginther stated: “gray-scale diagnostic ultrasonography is the most profound technological advance in the field of large animal research and clinical reproduction since the introduction of transrectal palpation and radioimmunoassay of circulating hormones.” (Ginther, 1986). It is hard to imagine that many discoveries and procedures related to ovarian, uterine and fetal function that we use today would have been considered without the development of realtime ultrasound. The research and commercial applications of ultrasound developed for reproduction over the last 15 years would support the statement by O. J. Ginther. The area that has arguably benefited more from the development of ultrasound technology than any other area is reproduction in large animals. In many cases, rectal palpation has been replaced by transrectal ultrasonography for pregnancy determination, and diagnoses associated with uterine and ovarian infections. In addition, ultrasonography has added benefits such as fetal sexing, early embryonic detection and is less invasive than rectal palpation. From a research standpoint, ultrasound has given us the ability to visually characterize the uterus, fetus, ovary, corpus luteum, and follicles. More accurate measurements of the reproductive organs has opened doors to new areas of research and validated or refuted data from past reports. Practical applications of ultrasound by bovine practitioners for routine reproductive examinations of beef and dairy cattle is the next contribution this technology is positioned to make to the livestock industry. Most veterinary students continue to be taught that ultrasound is a secondary technology for bovine reproductive work; however, the information-gathering capabilities of ultrasonic imaging far exceed those of rectal palpation (Ginther, 1995). This paper will discuss the impact and practical applications of ultrasound for conducting routine reproductive examinations in dairy and beef cattle.