Abstract

This study aimed to characterize uterine involution and early ovarian postpartum activity in Sahelian goats. A total of 21 goats were allowed to nurse their kids and were examined every other day for complete uterine involution or daily for follicular development using a 5 MHz transrectal linear transducer. The obtained results indicated three phases of uterine regression, a fast involution phase (rates of 0.71 cm/day), a second moderate involution phase (0.17 cm/day), and a low rate of 0.14 cm/day that ended by day 22.44 ± 1.54. During the experiment, two goats showed an abnormal uterine involution and were excluded from the general profile. The 19 other goats exhibited a very similar profile of uterine involution described by the logarithmic equation y = -2.33ln(x) + 9.43 (R² = 0.98, P < 0.05) where y = uterine diameter (cm) and x = days postpartum. Ovarian activity started within the first week postpartum and was characterized by appearance of one to three follicles ranged in mean size [4.95 ± 1.45 to 8.56 ± 0.66] on both ovaries. These findings could assist practitioners to decide when goats should be bred following parturition.

Key words: Goat, ovary, postpartum, ultrasonography, uterus.