Accuracy of ultrasound and visual inspection in antral follicular count in crossbred Holstein cows raised under grazing systems at high altitude

The objective of this research was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of post‐mortem ultrasound in antral follicle count (AFC) determination and compare it with visual AFC in grazing crossbred Holstein cows, at high altitude in Ecuador. Pre‐mortem blood from 80 cows was collected, and AFC and ov...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inReproduction in domestic animals Vol. 58; no. 12; pp. 1766 - 1769
Main Authors Ayala, Luis, Dutan, Jorge, Samaniego, Jorge, Jácome, Andrés, Garay, Gabriela, Rodas, Ramiro, Astiz, Susana
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2023
Subjects
Accuracy
Altitude
Animals
Anti-Mullerian Hormone
antral follicle count
Blood
Blood levels
Cattle
Female
follicle development
Follicles
Grazing
High altitude
High-altitude environments
Inspection
oestrous cycle
Ovarian Follicle - diagnostic imaging
Ovaries
ovary
Ovary - diagnostic imaging
post‐mortem
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasonic testing
Ultrasonography - veterinary
Ultrasound
follicle development
ovary
antral follicle count
oestrous cycle
post-mortem
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The objective of this research was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of post‐mortem ultrasound in antral follicle count (AFC) determination and compare it with visual AFC in grazing crossbred Holstein cows, at high altitude in Ecuador. Pre‐mortem blood from 80 cows was collected, and AFC and ovarian characteristics were analysed post‐mortem by ultrasound and visual techniques. AFC counts were stratified as high, medium or low by terciles. Mean AMH concentration in pre‐mortem blood was 280.1 ± 15.53 pg/mL. The AFC obtained by visual inspection (26.9 ± 9.49 follicles) was 23.8% higher than by ultrasound (20.5 ± 7.53 follicles) in all ovaries. Body condition score, age and weight of the cattle did not interact with the count technique. In the low AFC group, visual inspection and ultrasound provided similar AFC results. However, in the Medium‐ and High‐AFC groups, AFC by ultrasound was 14.9% lower than AFC by visual inspection. We confirm that ultrasound can be used with great accuracy for AFC >3 mm (close to the resolution limit) in grazing crossbred Holstein cows at high altitude.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0936-6768
1439-0531
DOI:10.1111/rda.14488