ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Animal Reproduction - Theriogenology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1689769
Fetometry in Arabian horses
Provisionally accepted
- Qassim University, Al-Melida, Saudi Arabia
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This study monitored intrauterine fetal growth, developed equations for estimating gestational age, and determined the best time for fetal sexing in Arabian horses. Transrectal ultrasonography monitored seven Arabian mares from insemination to parturition. Measurements included the embryonic vesicle (EV), crown-rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BIP), stomach diameter (STD), chest depth (CHD), abdominal diameter (ABD), kidney length (KDL), eyeball diameter (EBD), and eye lens length (ELL). EV, embryo proper, organization, and ossification were detected on days 10.3 ± 0.5, 21.3 ± 1.3, 33.6 ± 2.0, and 57.7 ± 3.5, respectively. Except for CRL, ELL, and KDL, all parameters grew linearly and correlated strongly with gestational age (P < 0.0001). Fetal sexing was possible between days 56 and 161, with the greatest accuracy (98%) and applicability (64.9%) between days 105 and 133. These findings provide a timeline for fetal development and sex determination in Arabian horses, thereby improving breeding management.
Keywords: horse, Arabian, Pregnancy, Gestational Age, Regression model, Fetal sex, ultrasound
Received: 20 Aug 2025; Accepted: 29 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ali, Derar, Alaeyeari and Alharbi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Yousef Alharbi, yhrby@qu.edu.sa
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