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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Domest Anim / Prediction of gestational age based on foetal ultrasonograph...
Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2022; 57(7); 743-753; doi: 10.1111/rda.14116

Prediction of gestational age based on foetal ultrasonographic biometric measurements in light breed horses.

Abstract: A table was generated, based on foetal ultrasonographic measurements in light breed mares, for each day of gestation beginning with day 100, to provide the predicted value of four biometric parameters: biparietal diameter (BPD), eye approximated volume (EyV), foetal aortic diameter (AortD) and femur length (FL). Using this table, day of gestation was successfully predicted in 23 Quarter Horses (QH) with known mating or ovulation dates. BPD, EyV and FL were the best foetal age predictors between 100- and 200-days gestation predicting within 2 weeks of the actual day of gestation, while BPD and EyV were best between 200 and 300 days (within 3 weeks), and EyV was best after 300 days (within 3 weeks).
© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-31 PubMed ID: 35342998DOI: 10.1111/rda.14116Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study delves into the prediction of gestational age in light breed horses, specifically Quarter Horses, using four different ultrasonographic measurements. By generating a table based on daily observations beginning from the 100th day of gestation, a comparative analysis is conducted to determine the viable prediction parameters.

Methodology

  • A table of daily foetal ultrasonographic measurements starting from day 100 of gestation was generated. This table included four parameters – biparietal diameter (BPD), eye approximated volume (EyV), foetal aortic diameter (AortD), and femur length (FL).
  • The horses used for this investigation were light breed mares, particularly Quarter Horses, with known mating or ovulation dates.

Findings

  • The table was used to successfully predict the gestational day in 23 Quarter Horses.
  • The study rated BPD, EyV, and FL as the most effective parameters for predicting foetal age between 100 and 200 days of gestation. The prediction was accurate within a range of 2 weeks from the actual date of gestation.
  • Between 200 and 300 days of gestation, BPD and EyV stood out as the most reliable measurements, providing accurate results within 3 weeks of the actual gestational period.
  • Past 300 days, the eye approximated volume (EyV) was the most effective in predicting the gestational age, still within an accuracy range of 3 weeks.

Conclusions

  • The study underscores the importance and reliability of the four identified biometric parameters in predicting gestational age in light breed horses.
  • The utilization of these parameters provides an effective and non-invasive method to monitor the progress of gestation in these horses.
  • The accuracy of these parameters varied based on the range of days in the gestation period, with different measurements shining in distinctive gestational ranges.

Cite This Article

APA
Renaudin CD, Kass PH, Bruyas JF. (2022). Prediction of gestational age based on foetal ultrasonographic biometric measurements in light breed horses. Reprod Domest Anim, 57(7), 743-753. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14116

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 7
Pages: 743-753

Researcher Affiliations

Renaudin, Catherine D
  • University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Kass, Philip H
  • University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Bruyas, Jean-Francois
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Nantes, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biometry
  • Female
  • Fetus / diagnostic imaging
  • Gestational Age
  • Horses
  • Pregnancy
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • CEnter for Equine Health Davis CA USA

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Janelt F, Kauffold J, Sigmarsson HL, Hamedy A, Riehn K, Koethe M, Altemeier J, Rolzhäuser PM. Sonographic Assessment of Fetometric Parameters in Pigs of Different Prolific Genotypes for Gestational Age Estimation. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 22;16(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16020349pubmed: 41594537google scholar: lookup
  2. Ali A, Derar DR, Alaeyeari AA, Alharbi YM. Fetometry in Arabian horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1689769.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1689769pubmed: 41209474google scholar: lookup
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