Induction and synchronization of pregnancy in cows

Inductions and synchronizations of parturitions by the analogue PG F2alpha, Cloprostenol, were tested in cows under production conditions. The average time from induction to delivery is 40.5 hours (33-49 hours). No significant relation exists between the length of gravidity and the time of delivery induction (correlation coefficient = -0.325). A scheme was proposed from the system of calving days in cows to organize synchronized parturitions. In production conditions the induction and synchronization of cow parturitions cannot be recommended because amnions are retained frequently (69.7%). No relationship was demonstrated between gravidity length at the time of delivery induction and the order of parturition in the cow (first-calver-cow).     

Metabolic profiles in goat does in late pregnancy with and without subclinical pregnancy toxemia

Background: Pregnant goat does can develop various metabolic diseases during late pregnancy that may have profound effects on their health and productivity, including subclinical pregnancy toxemia. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate serum biochemical findings in goats in late pregnancy with and without subclinical pregnancy toxemia. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 153 clinically healthy goats in the last trimester of pregnancy from 14 herds in central and northern Jordan. Serum was analyzed for the following constituents: 3‐hydroxybutyrate (3‐HB), glucose, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, triglycerides, cortisol, T3, T4, total calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, using commercially available kits. Goats were classified as having subclinical pregnancy toxemia or as controls on the basis of 3‐HB results. Biochemical results were compared between the 2 groups using nonparametric statistical tests. Results: Fifty‐three does had subclinical pregnancy toxemia (3‐HB>0.86 mmol/L) and 100 were pregnant control does (3‐HB≤0.86 mmol/L). Does with subclinical pregnancy toxemia had significantly lower glucose concentrations (P<.001) and significantly higher urea (P=.042) and total protein (P=.048) concentrations compared with pregnant control does. 3‐HB concentration was significantly correlated with glucose (r=0.290, P=.035), phosphorus (r=0.351, P=.01), and cortisol (r=0.394, P=.004) concentrations in goats with subclinical toxemia. Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that the biochemical profile of does with subclinical pregnancy toxemia differs from that of other pregnant goats. 3‐HB should be measured in pregnant does in late stages of gestation with hypoglycemia or with elevated urea and total protein concentrations.     

应用超声检测仪及人用妊娠诊断盒对母熊早期妊娠诊断试验

早期妊娠诊断在母熊的繁殖规律的研究中是一个难题。母熊交配、受孕后，生理、行为、外观没有明显的变化。受孕后，受精卵一直游离到5个月左右开始附植，附植后生长发育时间短，为6～8周。腹围在临产前1个月左右才有增大，但也不甚明显。鉴于上述情况，我们采用MCD—Ⅰ型检测仪和妊娠诊断盒     

Thyroid function and pregnancy status in broodmares

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether thyroid function was associated with pregnancy status in broodmares. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 79 Thoroughbred and Standardbred broodmares between 2 and 22 years old. PROCEDURE: Serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentration was measured before and 2 hours after i.v. administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), and serum thyroxine (T4) concentration was measured before and 4 hours after TRH administration. Pregnancy status was monitored by means of transrectal ultrasonography beginning 16 days after ovulation. RESULTS: Baseline T3 and T4 concentrations varied widely. In all mares, serumT3 concentration increased in response to TRH administration. Serum T4 concentration increased in response toTRH administration in all but 2 mares. Pregnancy rate was 76%. Baseline and stimulated serum T3 and T4 concentrations were not significantly different between mares that became pregnant and those that did not. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that decreased thyroid function is uncommon in mares and poor thyroid function is not a common cause of infertility. Thus, the practice of indiscriminately treating broodmares with thyroid hormone to enhance fertility appears questionable at this time.     

Canine pregnancy and parturition

In contrast to the large variation in canine gestation lengths based on mating-to-whelping intervals (56 to 70 days), gestation length based on intervals from the preovulatory LH surge to whelping shows little variation (64 to 66 days). By considering the preovulatory LH surge as the central endocrine event of the fertile cycle, various events can be reasonably timed, including ovulation on day 2, oocyte maturation on day 4, reduced fertility after day 6, implantation around day 17, and development of fetal radiopacity after day 45. Throughout pregnancy, gestation is dependent on ovarian progesterone secretion and, thus, on pituitary LH and prolactin for luteotrophic support. Because prostaglandin F2 alpha is luteolytic in the bitch, it may be involved in the luteolysis observed immediately prepartum in association with rises in maternal cortisol and prolactin levels.     

羊妊娠毒血症的防治

羊妊娠毒血症是怀孕末期母羊由于碳水化合物和挥发性脂肪酸代谢障碍而发生的亚急性代谢病,以低血糖、酮病、虚弱和失明为主要特征.主要临床表现为精神沉郁,食欲减退,运动失调,呆滞凝视,卧地不起,甚而昏睡等.近半年来,我站门诊已治该病1 3例,其中绵羊11例,山羊2例.治愈10例,药物引产2例,死亡1例.     

Diagnosis and correction of twin pregnancy in the mare

Reproductive Physiology 1. Twin pregnancies result in high rates of abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality. 2. Twins develop subsequent to multiple ovulations. Multiple ovulations are related to breed, parity, and mare history. Multiple ovulations are most frequently seen in Thoroughbred and Draft mares. Multiple ovulations are more common in barren and perhaps maiden mares than in lactating mares, and they are more common in certain individual mares. 3. Equine embryos are motile in the uterus from the time of first detection (Days 9 to 10) until fixation (Day 16). They are frequently located in the uterine body on Days 9 and 10. 4. Twin embryos have a pattern of motility and fixation similar to that of single embryos, and fixation is more frequently unilateral than bilateral (70 per cent versus 30 per cent, respectively). 5. Mares have an efficient natural embryo-reduction mechanism to eliminate excess (greater than 1) embryos resulting from multiple ovulations. Natural embryo reduction is more successful in unilateral than bilateral twin pregnancies (89 per cent versus 11 per cent successful reduction, respectively). 6. After the establishment of endometrial cups (Days 35 to 40), mares that are aborted will frequently not cycle for several months. Management of Twin Pregnancy 1. Breed all mares regardless of the number of preovulatory follicles. Withholding mares with preovulatory follicles from breeding does not decrease the incidence of twin pregnancy, but it decreases the overall pregnancy rate and results in a loss of breeding time. 2. Check all mares for twins, regardless of the number of detected ovulations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cortisol in pregnancy toxaemia of sheep

Of 31 pregnant ewes with clinical signs of pregnancy toxaemia, 24 had hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemia at the time that a single blood sample was obtained. Twenty-five of these had a plasma cortisol concentration in excess of 10 ng/ml and six had a value below this. All the seven animals which did not show both hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemia had a plasma cortisol concentration in excess of 10 ng/ml. Taking all the sheep together, 80% had a high plasma cortisol concentration. This could be the consequence of increased adrenal output or reduced excretion by the liver.