Ultrasonographic Fetal Sex Identification in Pregnant Sheep Derived from Natural Mating and Embryo Transfer

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the migration period of the genital tubercle and the period of visualization of external genital structures in fetuses of the Dorper breed of sheep derived from natural mating and from fresh, frozen and vitrified embryo transfer. Transrectal ultrasound was performed using a double-frequency linear transducer (6.0 and 8.0 MHz) to monitor 130 ewe fetuses distributed in the four treatments regarding embryo origin. The accuracy of the ultrasound was 100% in this experiment. The fetuses originated from controlled natural mating (NM) and from fresh (FrE), frozen (FE) and vitrified (VE) embryo transfer, with embryos collected 7 days after breeding. Migration of the genital tubercle occurred earlier (P<0.05) in NM (42.21+/-2.86 days) than in FrE (43.98+/-3.00 days), FE (44.97+/-1.83 days) and VE (44.58+/-1.97 days). Visualization of the scrotal bag, prepuce and vulva occurred, respectively, earlier (P<0.05) in NM (45.22+/-1.25, 45.95+/-1.53 and 45.01+/-1.03 days) than in FrE (48.91+/-1.92, 48.52+/-1.41 and 47.41+/-1.41 days), FE (49.97+/-1.08, 49.18+/-2.00 and 47.64+/-1.82 days) and VE (50.12+/-1.66, 49.27+/-1.61 and 47.93+/-1.92 days). The results show that fetal sexing can be accomplished from the 50th day onward in fetuses produced by natural mating and from the 55th day onward in fetuses derived from fresh, frozen and vitrified embryos. It can also be concluded that real-time ultrasonography is a reliable tool for fetal sex determination in sheep taking into account both the location of the genital tubercle and the identification of external genital structures.

Maternal nutritional restriction during late gestation impairs development of the reproductive organs in both male and female lambs

“…Ewes were daily fed with a diet based on alfalfa hay, ground corn grain and mineral and vitamins mix at100% (C ewes) or 50% (R ewes) of their metabolizable energy requirements according to the National Research Council (NRC) of 2007 [17] until the end of gestation (144e148 days). Each group had the same number of pregnant ewes with female (n ¼ 4/group) or males (n ¼ 4/group) fetuses, determined by ultrasound at ~70 days of gestation [18]. After delivery, lambs were properly identified, weighted, and kept with the mother until euthanasia, when they were weighted again.…”

Early determination of fetal sex in goat a comparison between real time PCR and ultrasonography

“…The ultrasonography fetal sexing had been relied upon the restriction of the genital tubercle [8]. These outcomes are higher than that of [13] who uncovered a genuine finding at a level of 30% in a 55 days incubation period, yet the rate was lesser than the aftereffects of similar specialists in a growth time of 65 days when they recorded 90%, while we acquired a level of 71.42% in a similar development period. Our outcomes had been affirmed by the unmistakable sex of the off springs after birth.…”

“…The absolute of the fetal sex were 51.11%, which overall lesser than that of [15], who revealed a rate (94%) and (100%) in singleton pregnant does separately, and furthermore lesser than the consequences of [16] , who recorded an exactness of 75% and 100% in does at development time of 55 and 65 individually, and they proposed that the bogus determination particularly in the male kidding might be because of the deferred relocation of genital tubercle happened later in the male fetus, which were at first analyzed as females, their idea may clarify the more noteworthy level of bogus analysis in our investigation in regard to the high male fetus number in our inspection in regard to female fetuses (Tables 2 and 3), particularly in the event that we realize that the male kidding typically finished their genital tubercles movement later than female once potentially in light of the more prominent distance to be crossed by the genital tubercle in male fetuses [17]. Then again, The misdiagnosis of female fetuses as male could be because of designs with comparable echogenicity that were confused with the genital tubercle, similar to the edge of the crinkled rear appendages or maybe even the umbilical cord wrapped around the midsection, as well as the misdiagnosis could happen regularly if investigation have been made too soon [18], nevertheless the trouble of controlling the uterus of sheep and goat during a ultrasonographic examination which influenced the precision of this method [19].…”

“…Utilizing ultrasonography for early finding of fetal goat sex had been showed a level of accomplishment conclusion of 51.11% (23/45 pregnant does) versus bogus determination in a level of 48.89% (22/45) partitioned in to (17) male and (5) female (Table 2). The ultrasonography fetal sexing had been relied upon the restriction of the genital tubercle [8].…”