Early pregnancy diagnosis in ewes by means of transrectal realtime ultrasonography (short communication)

Abstract. 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 II, 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.