Doppler ultrasound and its application in reproductive programs in cattle

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56124/allpa.v8i16.0129

Keywords:

Doppler ultrasound, corpus luteum, early pregnancy, bovine reproduction

Abstract

Reproductive efficiency in cattle is a critical factor for the sustainability of beef and dairy systems, where early pregnancy losses and prolonged calving intervals are persistent challenges. Doppler ultrasound has emerged as an innovative alternative that allows for real-time assessment of blood flow and corpus luteum function. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the usefulness of Doppler ultrasound in bovine reproductive programs, particularly in ultra-early pregnancy diagnosis, the selection of recipients for embryo transfer, and the assessment of luteal function. Thirty-five studies published between 2014 and 2025 were reviewed in indexed databases, following PRISMA guidelines to ensure a rigorous methodological process. The results show that Doppler ultrasound can diagnose pregnancy as early as 20 days post-insemination, with a sensitivity approaching 99% and higher accuracy than B-mode ultrasound. Furthermore, luteal vascularization was positively correlated with plasma progesterone levels, thus validating its use as a functional marker. In embryo transfer protocols, females with greater luteal perfusion were up to 2.3 times more likely to have reproductive success. It is concluded that Doppler ultrasound is a valuable tool for shortening intervals between services, optimizing recipient selection, and improving the efficiency of reproductive programs.

Keywords: Doppler ultrasound, corpus luteum, early pregnancy, bovine reproduction.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Andrade, J. P. N., Domingues, R. R., Monteiro, P. L. J., Dias, J. R., Pimenta, C., Guimarães, A. S., Barbosa, L., Merhi, S., Sartori, R., & Wiltbank, M. C. (2024). Identification of nonpregnant beef cows based on corpus luteum size vs. luteal blood perfusion at 21 days after timed artificial insemination. Theriogenology, 230, 15–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.08.014

Pugliesi, G., Guimarães da Silva, A., Moreira Viana, J. H., & Bruno Siqueira, L. G. (2023). Review: Current status of corpus luteum assessment by Doppler ultrasonography to diagnose non-pregnancy and select embryo recipients in cattle. Animal, 17(1), 100752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100752.

De Silva, M., Wickramasingha, D., Abayalath, N., alexander, B., Wijayagunawardane, M., Lee, K. & Kodithuwakku, S. (2024). Early pregnancy diagnosis in cows using corpus luteum blood flow analysis based on colour Doppler ultrasonography and mRNA analysis. BMC Vet Res 20, 572. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04438-5

Espinoza Villavicencio, J. L., Palacios Espinosa, A., Ortega Pérez, R., Guillén Trujillo, A., & Manríquez Hirales, E. (2021). Inseminación artificial a tiempo fijo y reinseminación de vacas para carne tratadas con y sin gonadotropina coriónica equina. Nova Scientia, 13(27), 00009. https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S2007-07052021000200109&script=sci_abstract&tlng=es

Fontes, P. L. P., & Oosthuizen, N. (2022). Applied use of Doppler ultrasonography in bovine reproduction. Frontiers in Animal Science, 3, 912854. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2022.912854

Gastal, R. G. (2021). Ecografía Doppler: su aplicación en reproducción bovina. XLVIII Jornadas Uruguayas de Buiatría, 134–141. https://ainfo.inia.uy/digital/bitstream/item/15722/1/JUB-no.48-2021.p.134-141.Gastal.pdf

Mebarki, M., Besbaci, M., & Abdelli, A. (2024). Enhancing prognostication of corpus luteum function in cows through B-mode and Doppler sonography. Large Animal Review, 30(6), 255-262. https://www.largeanimalreview.com/index.php/lar/article/view/837

Guerra Castillo, Y. (2023). Análisis del Uso de la ultrasonografía Doppler color y power en vacas preñadas para validar si existe correlación de la irrigación del cuerpo lúteo con la gestación bovina. Tesis. Universidad de Santander. Colombia. https://repositorio.udes.edu.co/server/api/core/bitstreams/1dfc0690-8057-41bc-8439-5ba1924494c4/content

Herzog, K., Brockhan Lüdemann, M., Kaske, M., Beindorff, N., Pablo, V., Niemann, H., & Bollwein, H. (2014). Luteal blood flow is a more appropriate indicator of luteal function during the bovine estrous cycle than luteal size. Theriogenology, 73(5), 691–697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.11.016

Mendoza Montoya, A. A. (2021). La ultrasonografía como herramienta para la producción animal. Trabajo de grado. Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Tolima, Colombia https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12494/34393

Murillo, J., Martínez, J., & Pérez, J. (2023). Doppler ultrasonography and its role in early detection of reproductive changes in cattle. Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 52(3), 110–118. https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.13189

Postolov, S., y Fasulkov, I. (2025). Application of colour Doppler ultrasonography for ovarian blood flow examination in cows – A review. Tradition and Modernity in Veterinary Medicine, 10(1), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15919966

Pugliesi, G., Guimarães da Silva, A., Viana, J. H. M., y Siqueira, L. G. B. (2023). Review: Current status of corpus luteum assessment by Doppler ultrasonography to diagnose non-pregnancy and select embryo recipients in cattle. Animal, 17(Suppl. 1), 100752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100752

Pugliesi, G., Rio Feltrin, I., Mattos, A. C. D., Silva, A. G., Morelli, K. G., Nishmura, T. K., y de Sousa Sales, J. N. (2024). Evolution over the last 40 years of the assisted reproductive technologies in cattle: Brazilian perspective (Part II). Animal Reproduction, 21(3), e20240058. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-3143-AR2024-0058

Valdivieso Vallejo, J. F. (2021). Diagnóstico ultraprecoz de gestación en bovinos lecheros con la técnica Doppler. Trabajo de titulación. Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Riobamba, Ecuador. https://dspace.espoch.edu.ec:8080/server/api/core/bitstreams/a9852675-dde7-42ba-8d96-9067ef864d09/content

Wiebe, M., Pfarrer, C., Górriz Martín, L., Schmicke, M., Hoedemaker, M., Bollwein, H., & Heppelmann, M. (2020). In vitro effects of lipopolysaccharides on bovine uterine contractility. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 56(2), 231–241. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13862

Yáñez, U., Murillo, A. V., Becerra, J. J., Herradón, P. G., Peña, A. I., y Quintela, L. A. (2023). Comparison between transrectal palpation, B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography to assess luteal function in Holstein cattle. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 1162589. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1162589

Published

2025-07-09

How to Cite

Brito-Donoso, F. J., & Macías-Andrade, J. I. (2025). Doppler ultrasound and its application in reproductive programs in cattle. Revista De Ciencias Agropecuarias ALLPA. ISSN: 2600-5883., 8(16), 234–245. https://doi.org/10.56124/allpa.v8i16.0129