THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ESTIMATES OF OVARIAN SIZE IN LIVE CATTLE ANDSUBSEQUENT MEASUREMENTS POSTMORTEM

The reproductive tract of each of 122 cows was palpated transrectally by a veterinarian on the day before they were slaughtered, to obtain e stimates of ovarian size and to identify palpable ovarian structures. Reproductive tracts were then retrieved post mortem. Ovarian volumes w ere recorded and compared with in vivo size scores (coded 1-5; 1 being the smallest). Ovarian volumes averaged 4.0 ml (score 1), 7.0 ml (2), 10.0 ml (3), 12.9 ml (4) and 15.9 ml (5). There was a linear increase in ovarian volume of 3.0 +/- 0.1 ml per score unit (r2 = 0.792). The curvilinear regression included a significant quadratic term (p<0.05), but only accounted proportionally for an additional 0.003 of the sums of squares. Ovarian size score was about proportional to volume and c ould be used as a non-surgical technique to measure ovarian volume in live cattle.