title: A comparison of rectal palpation and ultrasonography for the evaluation of superovulatory response in beef heifers.
abstract: The superovulatory response was followed up in 14 beef heifers by rectal palpation and by ultrasonographic examinations of the 28 ovaries, on day 7 after superovulation induced with PMSG (ovulation = day 0). Using a B-mode ultrasound instrument (Aloka Echo Camera SSD-210-DX II) equipped with a 5 MHz linear transrectal transducer, ultrasonography was found to be more reliable than rectal palpation. A significantly higher number of follicles (P < or = 0.049) was identified by ultrasound scanning than by rectal palpation of the ovaries: follicles were more easily differentiated from cysts using ultrasonography, since each fluid-filled vesicle was accurately measured on the screen and presented on the echogram.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Makek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cergolj
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barac-Getz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rudan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013480:Superovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography