As spring gears up, we have seen interest in small ruminant ultrasound. If you are looking to check ewes and does for opens or breds, we have you covered! Here are some tips to keep in mind this season!
Preparation
When ultrasounding small ruminants transabdominally, we recommend using the C-60 T Handle Probe, which can be plugged into our Flexx machine. It’s important to use plenty of alcohol, gel or lube (either applied to the skin or directly onto the probe head) to get the best image possible.
Achieving Optimal Contact
Proper contact is crucial, especially since ultrasound waves cannot penetrate air, hair, mud, or lanolin. That’s why surface preparation makes a big difference. We recommend thoroughly soaking the flank area with alcohol using a spray bottle. For tougher debris or lanolin, a rough-textured washcloth works wonders.
Location
Place the probe in the area underneath the flank, between the leg and the abdomen, and aim it towards the opposite hip. When placing the probe in the inguinal area, position it so that it is parallel to the body. Once you have scanned around the bladder, rotate the probe 90 degrees to be perpendicular to the body, and scan cranially.
If you choose to rectally ultrasound using the ReproArm Mini,
Opens and Bred
Determining if a ewe or doe is open or bred can sometime be challenging. To ensure you have not seen a fetus while ultrasounding, look for landmarks such as open uterus and no pockets of fluid. When a ewe or doe is bred, you will see a fluid-filled uterus and one or more fetus shapes. If you are ultrasounding after — days, you will be able to see a heartbeat when making good contact.
Optimal Timing of Ultrasounding
Ideally sheep and goats are scanned at a stage of gestation (45 to 80 days) when multiple fetuses can be detected accurately.
Best Settings for Small Ruminant Scanning