It’s useful in some situations to know ahead of time how mature an unborn foal is. For example, if there is a medical reason to induce labor, is the foal well enough developed to survive? Accurately assessing fetal age and development has been really difficult, but now there is a new tool.
“Catherine Renaudin, DVM, Dipl. ECAR (European College of Animal Reproduction), of UC Davis’ Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, explained how to use ultrasound to assess fetal bone maturation of the first phalanx (P1) during the 2021 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Nashville, Tennessee.”
—theHorse.com
At over 240 days of gestation, the front feet are usually pointing towards the back of the mare and accessible for a transrectal ultrasound of the mare, allowing this evaluation of the foal’s foot to be made.
For more details, please read the full article on theHorse.com here.
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