title: Applicability of fetal thoracic aortic diameter measurement in the prediction of birth weight in Holstein-Friesian cows - Short communication.
abstract: Transabdominal ultrasonography has been shown to be a useful and reliable method for assessing fetal well-being in horses and cattle. To test the applicability of fetal aortic diameter measurement in cattle, 44 late-term pregnant cows and heifers were examined 21 to 0 days prior to calving. Mean fetal aortic diameter was 2.07 ± 0.14 cm and mean fetal heart rate (FHR) was 109 ± 17 bpm. Three dead calves were dissected and their aortic diameter was measured in a water bath. The mean birth weight (n = 44) was 39.9 ± 5.8 kg. There was a significant negative correlation between FHR and fetal aortic diameter. However, although some studies have shown that fetal aortic diameter strongly correlates with birth weight in near-term horses and cattle, in this study there was no correlation between fetal aortic diameter and birth weight in Holstein-Friesian cows and heifers irrespective of whether the fetus was born alive or dead.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institution of Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine , H-1078 Budapest , Hungary.|MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group , Hungary.
authors.forename: Boglárka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vincze
authors.affiliation: Unit of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institution of Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine , H-1078 Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gáspárdy
authors.affiliation: MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group , Hungary.
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.affiliation: MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group , Hungary.
authors.forename: Ervin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group , Hungary.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kézér
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine , Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baska
authors.affiliation: MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group , Hungary.
authors.forename: Ottó
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Szenci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000196:embryology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Fetal well-being; aortic diameter; cattle; ultrasonography