The use of ultrasonographic measurement of the heart size and fetal heart rate variation for gestational age determination in local Bulgarian goats.

Background: Determination of gestational age in goats was performed using ultrasound measurements of different fetal biometric parameters. There are no data showing quadratic and exponential dependence between fetal heart parameters and gestational age.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to test the significance of the defined indicators (fetal heart rate, longitudinal and transverse fetal heart axes) for determining gestational age in local Bulgarian goats.

Determination of the gestational age through ultrasound measurements of some uterine and foetal parameters in Bulgarian local goats.

The aim of the current study was to determine the gestational age in goats through the measurement of some foetal and uterine structures. Twenty-four pregnant Bulgarian local goats were submitted to ultrasound foetometry by transrectal and transabdominal approaches. Ultrasound measurement of studied parameters was done at 7-day intervals during the first trimester of gestation (days 21-49) and at 14-day intervals between gestation days 49 and 133.