In the spring of 2021, Jenni Liddiard reached out in search of the ideal ultrasound machine to scan her sheep and pygmy goats. As a small-scale breeder, Jenni understands the importance of pregnancy confirmation—not only to optimize feeding costs but also to ensure the long-term reproductive health of her animals. Overfeeding non-pregnant goats or underfeeding those carrying multiple kids can lead to severe health complications, including pregnancy toxemia, which has proven fatal in her experience.

Like many small-scale goat and sheep breeders, Jenni faces a unique challenge: her need for ultrasound scanning is highly seasonal. Once the breeding season ends, her scanner sits unused for months, which can impact confidence and efficiency when she picks it up again the following year.

Though she is widely known as “The Jersey Sheep Lady”—a name she proudly adopted for her recently published book about building her farm—Jenni actually has a background in medical imaging. As a trained radiographer, she understands the science behind ultrasound, but even she finds that limited hands-on practice can lead to a loss of proficiency. This is a common issue among breeders who only scan for a short period each year.

Expert Support for Small-Scale Breeders

At ScanX, we prioritize ongoing support for our clients, helping them gain confidence in using their ultrasound machines. We offer second opinions on scan images and even provide live Zoom demonstrations for troubleshooting. This year, after years of virtual communication, Jenni decided she would benefit from an in-person assessment of her scanning technique. That’s when I flew to Jersey to meet her in person.

Scanning at Field Farm

Upon arriving at Jenni and her husband’s pristine Field Farm, we started the day scanning her Welsh Lleyn ewes. Her husband, David, and a local sheep farmer, Jeremy, assisted in the process. Jeremy had recently lost a ewe to pregnancy toxemia and was eager to see how ultrasound could help predict and prevent such issues in the future.

Initially, we ran the sheep through a handling chute and scanned them from the right side. However, Jenni quickly discovered that sitting behind them and scanning from inside the leg offered better maneuverability. She preferred the ScanX Ultrasound Machine’s compact microconvex probe for this technique over the larger convex probe she had previously used. The ScanX Ultrasound Machine stands out because it offers a microconvex probe with deeper penetration, making it well-suited for sheep scanning.

By the end of the session, Jenni had dramatically improved her speed. Whereas she had previously admired the efficiency of professional ultrasound technicians, she was now able to confirm or rule out pregnancy within seconds. Most of her ewes were confirmed pregnant, and with Jenni’s newfound speed, we wrapped up just as the wind began to pick up—perfect timing for a well-earned lunch break.

Challenges in Pygmy Goat Breeding

The afternoon was dedicated to scanning Jenni’s pygmy goats. She had previously scanned them with her ScanX machine and found no signs of pregnancy. Unfortunately, our session confirmed the same result—her male goat had not successfully bred with the females.

This presented a significant challenge for Jenni. Living on the island of Jersey, her access to male pygmy goats is extremely limited—there is only one available on the entire island. Importing another requires extensive paperwork, high costs, and a lengthy quarantine period, even from the nearby island of Guernsey.

For small-scale breeders like Jenni, ultrasound isn’t just a tool for pregnancy detection—it’s a critical asset for managing reproductive challenges and making informed breeding decisions. Whether it’s confirming pregnancy, estimating litter sizes, or troubleshooting breeding failures, ultrasound technology provides insights that can shape the future of a farm.