Use of ultrasonography for improving reproductive efficiency in cows I. Accuracy of rectal palpation and ultrasonography for determining the presence of a functional corpus luteum in subestrous daitry cows

초음파 진단장치를 이용한 축우의 번식효율증진에 관한 연구 I. 무발정 젖소에서 기능성황체를 평가하기 위한 직장검사와 초음파검사의 진단정확성

The accuracy of rectal palpation and ultrasonography for predicting the presence of a functional corpus luteum in subestrous dairy cows was investigated, using the result of a radioimmunoassay for progesterone in plasma. Luteal status (high or low progesterone concentrations) was diagnosed in 820 cows, using rectal palpation and B-mode transrectal ultrasonography, and the results of rectal palpation and ultrasonography were compared in $2{\times}2$ contingency table with plasma progesterone concentrations. A $2{\times}2$ contingency table analysis allowed the calculation of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for rectal palpation and ultrasonography. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of a positive test and predictive value of a negative test were 81.9%, 67.5%, 79.0% and 71.4% for rectal palpation, and 96.3%, 88.8%, 94.5% and 92.4% for ultrasonography, respectively. The percentages of observed agreement and expected agreement between rectal palpation and ultrasonography were 71.8% and 57.1%, respectively. An evaluation of agreement between rectal palpation and ultrasonography, the value of Kappa was 0.34. It was concluded that a ultrasonography was more sensitive and specific than rectal palpation in predicting the presence of a functional corpus luteum. Therefore, ultrasonographic examination is a reliable method for assessing the functional status of ovarian structures in subestrous dairy cows.