How to use sheep ultrasound machine

sheep ultrasound machine

The economic efficiency of sheep farms is directly related to sheep reproduction, and sheep ultrasound machine plays a very important role in the diagnosis of pregnancy in ewes. Through ultrasound examination, the pregnancy of ewes can be diagnosed. At the present stage, the common method of examining pregnancy in ewes is to use a veterinary ultrasound machine.

Veterinary ultrasound machines are commonly used for pregnancy diagnosis, disease diagnosis, estimation of the number of fetuses, stillbirth identification, etc. It has the advantages of rapid examination and clear results. Compared with the traditional examination methods, sheep ultrasound machine greatly simplifies the examination process, reduces the cost of examination, and facilitates the breeder/veterinarian to identify problems quickly and take quicker action, such as: rapid herding, etc.

Use of Ultrasound machine

Ultrasound is a high-tech means of cross-sectional observation of living organisms without any damage or stimulation, and has become a favorable assistant for veterinarians’ diagnostic activities and a necessary monitoring equipment for scientific research such as in vivo egg collection and embryo transfer.

1. Examination position

The abdominal wall is examined in the early stages of pregnancy on both sides of the breast and in the less hairy area between the breasts, or the interval between the two breasts. In mid- to late-pregnancy, the right abdominal wall can be examined. The examination in the less hairy area does not require hair clipping, while the examination in the lateral abdominal wall requires hair clipping and the examination in the rectum requires bailout.

2. Examination method

The examination method is basically the same as that for pigs. The examiner squats on the side of the sheep, and after the probe is coated with coupling gel, the probe is placed close to the skin and directed toward the entrance of the pelvis for a fan-shaped examination. It can be done from the front to the back of the breast, from the sides of the breast to the middle, or from the middle of the breast to the sides. In early pregnancy, the fetal sac is not large and the embryo is very small, so a slow scan is needed to detect it. The user can also squat behind the rump of the ewe and hold the probe from the middle of the two hind limbs to the udder for scanning. If the udder of the dairy ewe is too large, or if the hair on the lateral abdominal wall is too long and affects the inspection area, the assistant can lift the hind limb of the inspection side to expose the inspection area, but it is not necessary to cut the hair.

Features of Ultrasound Imaging

1. Ultrasound image features of ewes’ follicles

From the shape, most of them are round, a few are oval and pear-shaped. From the echogenic intensity of B-mode images on sheep, because the follicle is filled with follicular fluid, the echogenic acoustic scan on sheep with ultrasound is anechoic, which is a dark area on the image, forming an obvious contrast with the strong echogenic (bright) area of the follicle wall and surrounding tissues.

2. Ultrasound image features of the corpus luteum

Most of the corpus luteum tissue is round or oval in shape. Because the luteal tissue is weakly echogenic on ultrasound scan, it is not as dark as the follicle on ultrasound imaging in sheep. In addition, the major difference between the ovary and the corpus luteum on ultrasound imaging in sheep is the presence of trabeculae and blood vessels within the luteal tissue, so there are scattered dotted and linear bright areas on imaging, whereas there are none in the follicle.

Dos And Don’ts For Using Sheep Ultrasound Machine

1. Do not use the equipment in close proximity to generators, dental, broadcasting and other equipment, otherwise it may interfere with the image and affect the quality of the image.

2. Before using it for the first time, you must read the instruction manual of ultrasound carefully and operate it strictly according to the requirements.

3. In the process of operation, do not pull down the probe. You can rub the coupling gel on the surface of the probe to protect its surface. Thus, there is good contact between the examined animal and the probe.

4. Practice more, become proficient in the operation process, and check quickly.

5. Treat the sheep grasping gently, not violently, otherwise it may lead to problems such as abortion of the sheep.

Dawei Veterinary Medical has a variety of sheep ultrasound machines, palm ultrasound machines, portable ultrasound machines, which can meet the use of farms, veterinary hospitals, research institutions.