Bovine pregnancy at 38 days
Keywords: pregnant, cow, amnion, chorion, allantois, bovine, 38 days, pregnancy diagnosis, palpation
A bovine pregnancy of approx 38 days from a Holstein cow that was bred by a bull. The cow died suddenly from a unknown cause. This tract is shown in another LORI entry in an unopened state.
This image shows early placentome formation with small cotyledons on the fetal side and caruncles of the maternal side. The outermost membrane of the placenta (the chorion) has been stripped away partially to show the underlying allantois on either side of the amnion. Details of these membrane systems and bovine placentation are discussed and shown in greater detail elsewhere in LORI.
Image size: 1222 x 792px
Interestingly, it was not possible to determine the gender of this fetus with certainty by macroscopic examination of the genital tubercle. Although it was close to the caudal aspect of the umbilical cord indicating that this was probably a male, the base of the tail was also close to the cord, normal for this stage of gestation; not excluding the possibility of a female. Certainly this would not have been possible by transrectal ultrasonography.