Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X

Ultrasonographic study of udder and teat in pregnant and non-pregnant native goats in Khorram Abad

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Milad Rostami 1
Arash Kheradmand 2
Majid Masoudi Fard 3

1 School of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorram Abad, Iran. E-mail: rostami.mi@fv.u.ac.ir

2 Corresponding Author, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorram Abad, Iran. E-mail: kheradmand.a@lu.ac.ir

3 Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: mmfard@ut.ac.ir

https://doi.org/10.22059/jap.2026.401627.623868
Abstract
Objective: Due to the economic losses caused by mammary gland diseases in ruminants, a quick and accurate diagnosis of is necessary and new, precise and rapid techniques such as ultrasonography should be employed . Ultrasonography has the advantage of being non-invasive and can be used to study a variety of mammary gland structures. Using of "Water bath" and dipping of udder within the water is the primary ultrasonic mothod with high resolution in order to diagnostic study of different structures of udder and teat. This method causes the teat to be without any under pressure and therefor prevents teat deformity upon examination. Thus, the teat remains in its normal form, and ultrasonographic images acquired will be the most clear and resoulative. 
Method: The objective of this study was to compare udder and teat in pregnant and non-pregnant native goats, and right and left quarter in each udder. In this respect, 50 slaughtered native goats at the Golshan slaughterhouse of Khorramabad were sampled and divided into two groups of pregnant and non-pregnant udder (25 samples in each group) based on the presence of the embryo in the uterus and isolated from them. Ultrasonography of udder and teat were performed using a water bath and a linear probe at frequency of 7.5 MHz. All samples were examined and two groups of specimens were measured using the ruler option of the instrument. Udder cistern diameter, teat end width, teat cistern depth, teat wall thickness and teat canal length were statistically compared using student t test.
Results: This study found that the measured parameters of the teat cistern depth and teat end width in pregnant goats were significantly different than that of non-pregnant goats (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in the measured parameter of teat wall thickness between pregnant and non-pregnant goats. There were no significant differences between the teat canal length and the udder cistern diameter in the comparison of the quarter leaves of pregnant and non-pregnant goats  and in the comparison of right quarter,. Also, there was no significant difference between left quarter and right quarter in any of the measured parameters in both pregnant goats and non-pregnant goats.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, ultrasonography of udder and teat appears to be a promising and practical technique for diagnosis imaging of the health status and/or potential pathological disorders of udder and teat of native goats in the farm or research studies.

Keywords

Goat
Teat
Udder
Ultrasonography
Reference
Abshenas, J., Vosough, D., Molaee, M., & Masoudifard, M. (2007). B-mode ultrasonography of the udder and teat in camel (Camelus dromedarius).‏ Journal of Veterinary Reseach, 65, 1159-1163.
Abu, A. H., Mhomga, L. I., &Akogwu, E. I. (2013). Assessment of udder characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats reared under different management systems in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8(25), 3255-3258.DOI: 0.5897/AJAR2013.7132
Adam, Z., Ragab, G., Awaad, A., Tawfiek, M., & Maksoud, M. (2017). Gross anatomy and ultrasonography of the udder in goat. Journal of Morphology, 34(3), 137-142.DOI:10.4322/jms.105316
Bruckmaier, R.M., & Blum, J.W. (1992) B-mode ultrasonography of mammary glands of cows, goats and sheep during alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist and oxytocin administration. Journal of Dairy Research, 59, 151-159.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029900030399
Cartee, R. E., Ibrahim, A. K., & McLeary, D. (1986). B-mode ultrasonography of the bovine udder and teat. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 188(11), 1284-1287.
Caruolo, E.V., & Mochrie, R.D. (1967). Ultrasonograms of lactating mammary glands. Journal of Dairy Science, 50, 225-230.
Din Dar, M., Tiwari, D. K., Jhala, S. K., Patil, D. B., Parikh, P. V., Joy, N., & Wadhwani, K. N. (2014). Ultrasonography of teat in surti goats. Indian Journal of Animal Reseach, 48(1), 59-62.‏https://doi.org/10.5958/j.0976-0555.48.1.012.
Ebtsam, E.Z., Fadel, M., Ola, A.A., Ahmed, M.A., & Amal, Z.A.L. (2020). Ultrasonography, Histopathological Udder Alterations And Bacteriological Investigations For Diagnosis OfMastitic Goats. Journal of Applied veterinary Sciences, 5, 77-86. DOI: 10.21608/javs.2020.85593
Fasulkov, I. R., Georgiev, P. I., Antonov, A. L., & Atanasov, A. S. (2010). B-mode ultrasonography of mammary glands in goats during the lactation period. Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 13(4), 245-251.
Fasulkov, I. R. (2012). Ultrasonography of the mammary glandin ruminant: a review. Bulgarian journal of veterinary medicine, 15(1), 1-12.
Fasulkov, I., & Koleva, M. (2011). Ultrasound imaging findings in acute mammary gland inflammations in goats. Journal of Mountain Agriculture on the Balkan (Bulgaria), 11, 15-22.
Flöck, M., & Winter, P. (2006). Diagnostic ultrasonography in cattle with diseases of the mammary gland. The Veterinary Journal, 171(2), 314-321.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.11.002
Franz, S., Floek, M., & Hofmann-Parisot, M. (2009). Ultrasonography of the bovine udder and teat. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 25(3), 669-685.DOI:10.1016/j.cvfa.2009.07.007
Franz, S., Hofmann-Parisot, M. M., & Baumgartner, W. (2004). Evaluation of three-dimensional ultrasonography of the bovine mammary gland. American journal of veterinary research, 65(8), 1159-1163.https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1159
Franz, S., Baumgartner, W., Hofmann-Parisot, M., Windischbauer, G., Suchy, A., & Bauder, B. (2001). Ultrasonography of the teat canal in cows and sheep. Veterinary Record, 149(4), 109-112.‏https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.149.4.109
Güngör, Ö.,  Pancarcı, Ş. M., & Karabacak, A. (2005). Examination of equine udder and teat by B-mode ultrasonography. KafkasÜniversitesiVeteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 11(2), 33-39.
Klein, D., Flöck, M., Khol, J. L., Franz, S., Stüger, H. P., & Baumgartner, W. (2005). Ultrasonographic measurement of the bovine teat: breed differences, and the significance of the measurements for udder health. Journal of Dairy Research, 72(3), 296-302.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029905000920
Makovický, P., Margetín, M., & Milerski, M. (2015). Estimation of udder cistern size in dairy ewes by ultrasonography. Mljekarstvo: Casopis za UnaprjeđenjeProizvodnjeiPreradeMlijeka, 65(3), 210-218.https://doi.org/10.15567/mljekarstvo.2015.0308
Martínez, M. E., Calderón, C., de la Barra, R., de la Fuente, L. F., & Gonzalo, C. (2011). Udder morphological traits and milk yield of Chilota and Suffolk Down sheep breeds. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research, 71(1), 90-95.
Nudda, A., Pulina, G., Vallebella, R., Bencini, R., & Enne, G.  (2000) Ultrasound technique for measuring mammary cistern size of dairy ewes. Journal of Dairy Reseach, 67, 101-106.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029999003921
Rovai, M., Such, X., Piedrafita, J., Caja, G., & Pujol, M. R. (1999). Evolution of mammary morphology traits during lactation and its relationship with milk yield of Manchega and Lacaune dairy sheep.  European Association for Animal Production,95, 107-112. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004683877019
Santos, D. A. D. S., Vicente, W. R. R., Canola, J. C., &Léga, E. (2004). B-mode ultrasonography in cows during lactation to evaluate the teat anatomy using four different techniques. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 41(5), 350-354.https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-95962004000500010
Seeh, C., Hospes, R., & Bostedt, H. (1996). Use of visual methods (sonography/endoscopy) for the diagnosis of a webbed teat in cattle. A case report. Tierarztliche Praxis, 24(5), 438-442.
Stocker, H., Battig, U., Duss, M., Zahner, M., Flückinger, M., Eicher, R., & Rüsch, P. (1989). Die abklärung von zitzenstenosenbeim rind mittelsultraschall. Tierärztl Prax, 17, 251-256.
Will, S., Würgau, S. T., Fraunholz, J., Bouabid, C., & Leidl, W. (1990). SonographischeBefunde an der Papilla mammae des Rindes. DtschTierärztlWschr, 97, 403-6.
Yotov, S., Wehrend, A., Vassilev, N., Georgiev, P., Lottner, S., Antonov, A., & Atanasov, A. (2008). Ultrasonographic fetal sex determination in sheep depending on gestational age and fetal position. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 43, 35-36.
 
Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X
Volume 28, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 259-272

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us