Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1992, 52: 191-194
Forty-seven pregnant alpacas were bled every 2 weeks from mating until
parturition. Blood were analyzed for progesterone using a commercial
assay kit (DPC). Thirty-seven pregnant alpacas were scanned at 28 day
intervals over pregnancy using a 3.5 mHz trans-abdominal probe, while a
further 21 pregnant alpacas were scanned with both a trans-abdominal
probe and a 5mHz trans-rectal probe. Measurements of foetal growth
characteristics were attempted on crown-rump (CR), biparietal diameter
(BPD), head length (HL), chest width (CW), and heart size (HS).
Analysis was carried out using linear regression of foetal age on foetal
measurements. The trans-rectal traits between two probes for the
regression equations of foetal age on foetal measurement (r2 were CW
83%, HS 80%, HD 74%, HL 69%, CR 53%).
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Alpaca; progesterone; ultrasonography; foetus.
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
