To ensure that you run a profitable farm it is essential to pregnancy test your cows and heifers every year allowing the removal of "empty" cows from the herd.
At Delatite Veterinary Services we use ultrasonography to assist in the early detection of a pregnancy. The ultrasound is inserted rectally and the scan of the uterus occurs through the rectal wall. This allows a clear and accurate image to be viewed.
One of the other advantages of using ultrasound is that we can diagnose uterine infections,
twins at early ages and ovarian abnormalities.
A foetus can be detected from 6 weeks of age, however our recommendation is to pregnancy test about 8 weeks after the bull has been removed.
Requirements:
- A crush enabling restraint of the cow.
- No electricity is needed, it runs from a battery. See below.
- 2 assistants, one to operate the crush and one to push up the cattle into the race.
This is an image showing a 6 week pregnancy, the black is fluid within the uterus and the white 1cm circle is the pregnancy!
Prices are per head and typically we work on testing about 60 - 80 per hour.
