USE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS IN BALKHI SHEEP

The present study was conducted to determine the earliest stage of gestation at which pregnancy could be detected through transabdominal ultrasonography, to describe development characteristics of pregnancy from day 26 to day 60 of gestation, and to assess the accuracy of flock pregnancy diagnosis on day 75 after ram introduction in “Balkhi sheep” of Pakistan. A real time B-mode ultrasound scanner equipped with a 3.5 MHz probe was used for this purpose. A 100% accuracy of the pregnancy diagnosis was achieved at day 42 of gestation. Placentomes and leg buds were visible in 100% cases between 45 and 50 days of gestation, and vertebral column was apparent in 100% ewes between 51 and 55 days of gestation. Accuracy of flock pregnancy diagnosis was assessed by once only ultrasono- graphy at 75^th day after introduction of ram in 71 ewes over two breeding seasons. Flock pregnancy test performed at this day was 97% accurate.