Ultrasonography of the bovine udder

Authors: SAİT ŞENDAĞ, D. ALİ DİNÇ

Abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the normal ultrasonographic appearance of mammary gland and teat of lactating cow. Mammary quarters were examined directly contact and in the water bath by a real-time 5-7.5 MHz linear array transducer connected to a real time ultrasound equipment. The data obtained by direct scanning and in the water bath were evaluated comparatively. The study was carried out a total of 150 teats and udders of the 50 cows brought to the Gynecology Clinic Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selçuk. Ultrasonographically teat tissue is divided into 3 layers, a hyperechoic outer layer, a hypoechoic middle layer and more hyperechoic inner layer. The papillary duct and rosette of Furstenberg were monitered as hyperechoic. The teat sinus were observed as an anechoic area continuous with the gland sinus. At the base of the teat, the annular ring appeared as a hypoechoic structure extending into the lumen. The plexus venosus papillaris, in the middle layer of the teat, and the circulus venosus papillae, the annular fold area, were detected as sonographically anechoic. As a conclusion morphological structures of the bovine teat and udder can be differentiated with B-mode ultrasound. Diagnostic ultrasound can be recommended as an additional diagnostic tool for stenose and other abnormalities of the teat in dairy cows.

Keywords: Ultrasound, bovine teat and udder

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