17 J. C. P. Ferreira Ian Martin C. R. Irikura L. U. Gimenes C. J. Fujiraha A. M. Jorge E. Oba Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JAPS 20122012/06/01 22 3 377-383 1018-7081 NA <p>The aim of the current study was to monitor the early pregnancy development in buffalo and establish biometric threshold of different gestational vesicle and embryo/fetal parts from the day of diagnostic to the 70th day of pregnancy. Serial daily sonographic examinations were carried out on eleven pregnant buffalo-heifers, during which the gestational vesicle diameter, amniotic vesicle diameter, crown-rump length, trunk diameter and biparietal diameter were measured. Embryo/fetal sex characteristics were also determined during sonographic examination. The gestational vesicle, embryo and its heartbeats were assessed, respectively, by gestational days (gd) 20.55  2.34; 25.18  1.91 and 25.27  3.58 of pregnancy. The liquid column in non pregnant horn and amniotic vesicle were detected, respectively, by days 31.0  3.83 and 31.64  2.34 of pregnancy. Subsequently were sequentially detected the neural tube (gd 33.0  3.51), umbilical chord (gd 40.25  2.76), early limbs, (gd 41.67  4.85), embryos proper movement (gd 46.25  2.36), vertebral column (gd 47.33  4.9), body organization (gd 47.48  5.61), genital tubercle (gd 44.5  2.39), fetal bones (gd 56.56  1.16), brain (gd 57.5  1.2), urinary bladder (gd 57.88  3.08), stomach cavities (gd 59.17  4.36), brain ventricles (gd 61.09  2.34), end of migration of genital tubercle in males (gd 58.4  2.2) and in females (gd 60.4  4.2), skull acoustic shadow (gd 59.66  3.13), vertebra acoustic shadow (gd 62.14  3.13), ribs acoustic shadow (gd 64  2.65) and limb bones acoustic shadow (gd 65  1.58) and liver (gd 66.63  3.54). High regression and correlation coefficients were found between different studied parameters and gestational age, where the highest correlation was found with the biparietal diameter and crown-rump length. In conclusion, the overall data indicated the feasibility and value of ultrasonographic embryo, fetal and vesicle characteristics and embryo/fetometry in buffaloes for the evaluation of fetal development and estimation of gestational age during the first 70th pregnancy days.</p> NA Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2012-JAPS-3051