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Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi
2024 , Vol 30 , Issue 1
A Novel "Onder Speculum" to Visualize and Retract the Cervix During Transcervical Procedures in Small Ruminants
1Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, TR-36100, Kars - TÜRKİYE2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, TR-36100 Kars - TÜRKİYE DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2023.30605 The visualization of the cervix and subsequent manipulations during transcervical applications in sheep might require a degree of straining reflexes while using the Collin Speculum. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and to evaluate the feasibility of a new alternative speculum design for non-surgical assisted reproductive procedures in small ruminants. Collin speculum (CS) and the new "Onder speculum" (OS) were used to assess cervical entrance in 30 ewes. The OS efficiency for a successful cervical retraction was also evaluated. Data showed that the cervical entrance was visible in 8 out of the 30 females with CS, while it was observed in all the animals when using OS (P<0.001). The latter was successful in the retraction of the cervical entrance in 10 randomly selected animals out of the total. To conclude, the newly developed speculum effectively supported the implementation of non-surgical assisted reproductive procedures in small ruminants and was also considered to have the potential to facilitate non-invasive reproductive techniques in these species. Keywords : Small ruminants, Speculum, Cervix entrance