Determination of Gestational Age in Shami Goats Based on Transabdominal Ultrasonographic Measurements of Placentomes and Uterine Diameter

The study was aimed to estimate the gestational age of Shami does by transabdominal ultrasonographic measurement of maternal parameters. Thirty-three Shami does aged 2-2.5 years with confirmed conception dates were used. The does were examined in a standing position using a transabdominal 3.5 MHz convex sector probe of real-time ultrasonography. The does were examined weekly starting from 21 days of pregnancy until parturition. Measurements of the maternal parameters that include; the uterine diameter, placental width, and placental height were obtained from the ultrasonographic images using the software Screen Calipers. Results showed that the gestational sac and embryos were observed early on 21 and 35 days of pregnancy. The litter size of Shami does was 2-3 kids. Uterine diameter ranged between 27±1.4 and 136.9±4.2 mm between 21-130 days, placentomes width was 17.6±0.6 – 38.5±2.1 mm, placentomes height was 9.5 ± 1.8 – 24.5 ± 1.4 mm on 51-150 days of gestation. The highest positive correlations were obtained between the gestational age and the measurements of uterine diameter (r=0.943). The least positive correlations were between the gestational age and the values of placenta width (r=0.715) and placentom height (r=0.615). In conclusion, transabdominal ultrasonography is a practical method for pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring of embryo in Shami goats. Also, it is reliable to estimate gestation age from 21 days of pregnancy. The uterine diameter was the best maternal parameter that can be used for the longest period for estimation of Shami goats gestational age.