Rectal palpation for pregnancy checks in cows – the past or an alternative to modern diagnostic methods

Abstract

Early diagnosis of pregnancy in cattle is an important factor determining the profitability of breeding. It allows to shorten the intercalving period, by accelerating the next insemination procedure or diagnosing the cause of infertility. Palpation of the reproductive system by rectal examination isthe method used for more than 100 years it involves palpation of the uterine horns to detect the fetal vesicle, fetus water and the embryo itself. The earliest period when a fetal bladder can be detected is the 28th day after insemination in heifers and 32-35 in multiparous. The method is fast, cheap, does not require additional equipment, and the result is immediate. The ability to carry out the proper and effective recognition with this method is not easy and requires theoretical and practical preparation. The method also involves the risk of causing fetal damage and, as a result, loss of pregnancy and deterioration of the cow’s well-being. The modernization of the method is the introduction of an ultrasound for rectal examination, which allows to increase the efficiency of diagnosis and shorten the time from insemination to the examination. Diagnosis of early pregnancy through rectal examination, although it has been used for a long time, has not lost its importance or popularity. Although new methods of diagnosing pregnancy still appear in today’s practice, they do not affect its importance.