What is rectal palpation in cattle?

What is rectal palpation in cattle?

Rectal palpation is the cheapest and most convenient method of pregnancy testing cattle. Using this method, veterinary practitioners can identify pregnant cows as early as six weeks after conception. They feel for the calf's head, a pulse in the artery supplying blood to the uterus, and the shape of the cow's uterus.

What do you feel when palpating a cow?

The Reproductive Tract The horns of this tract are usually coiled on their front edge, and in older cows may hang slightly into the abdominal cavity (Figure 7). When you palpate them, both uterine horns in the open cow will feel thick-walled and have a meaty texture.

How soon can you palpate a cow?

To accurately and efficiently conduct pregnancy exams on large groups of cows, the exams should be performed from 26 to 30 days after the last possible breeding if using ultrasound for pregnancy diagnosis. If using rectal palpation, pregnancy exams should be conducted 35 to 40 days after the cows are bred.