Economic losses due to dystocia or neonatal death as well as animal welfare and ethical concerns demand a reliable prediction of parturition with the aim to improve survival of the dam and her offspring. In this review, estimation of gestational age by ultrasound and prediction of parturition based on clinical signs, behaviour changes and changes in body temperature, composition of mammary gland secretions as well as hormonal changes are discussed in comparison between horses and cattle. Based on the physiological changes associated with the end of gestation and onset of labor, several systems and methods to predict parturition in horses and cattle have been developed. Physiological differences related to breed, maternal age and parity, pathological changes due to intrauterine growth retardation, placental problems or general illness of the dam but also housing and management systems bias a reliable prediction of parturition. This may be acceptable in cattle as long as birth alarm systems give satisfying results at herd level. The situation is different in the horse where the economic and emotional value of an individual mare and her foal usually reaches different dimensions than in cows. The possibilities for prediction of parturition can thus be discussed together, the consequences, however, may differ considerably between the two species.

中文翻译：

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预测马和牛的分娩开始

由于难产或新生儿死亡以及动物福利和伦理问题造成的经济损失需要可靠的分娩预测，目的是提高大坝及其后代的存活率。在这篇综述中，通过马和牛之间的比较，讨论了通过超声估计胎龄和根据临床体征、行为变化和体温变化、乳腺分泌物的组成以及荷尔蒙变化来预测分娩。基于与妊娠结束和分娩开始相关的生理变化，已经开发了几种预测马和牛分娩的系统和方法。与品种、产妇年龄和胎次有关的生理差异、宫内发育迟缓引起的病理变化、胎盘问题或大坝的一般疾病以及住房和管理系统都会使可靠的分娩预测产生偏差。只要出生警报系统在牛群水平上提供令人满意的结果，这对于牛来说是可以接受的。马的情况有所不同，其中一匹母马和她的小马驹的经济和情感价值通常达到与母牛不同的维度。因此，可以一起讨论预测分娩的可能性，然而，两个物种之间的后果可能会有很大差异。马的情况有所不同，其中一匹母马和她的小马驹的经济和情感价值通常达到与母牛不同的维度。因此，可以一起讨论预测分娩的可能性，然而，两个物种之间的后果可能会有很大差异。马的情况有所不同，其中一匹母马和她的小马驹的经济和情感价值通常达到与母牛不同的维度。因此，可以一起讨论预测分娩的可能性，然而，两个物种之间的后果可能会有很大差异。