Milk progesterone kits: On-farm use
Stevenson, Jeffrey S.; Call, Edward P.
Diagnosing pregnancy in dairy cattle is an essential part of good
management. The objective of this procedure is not to identify pregnant cows, but
to identify the nonpregnant cows, those that become the breeding challenge.
Economics dictate that verifying the pregnancy or "open" status of the cow is
essential. Estimated losses of $1 to $3 per cow per day when conception is delayed
beyond 85 days postpartum emphasize the importance of inseminating cows early to
allow for 12 to 13-month calving intervals.
A number of diagnostic tools are available and increasing scientific
knowledge and technology will provide for improved pregnancy diagnosis in the
future through use of cowside tests. These available procedures include: 1)
continuous detection of estrus to identify inseminated cows that return to heat 18
to 24 days post breeding (repeat heats); 2) palpation of the uterus and its contents
per rectum (sometime after day 35 of suspected pregnancy depending on the
expertise of the clinician); 3) radioimmunoassays (RIA) of progesterone in milk,
blood serum, and plasma; and 4) enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) for
progesterone in milk, blood serum, and plasma. At least five chemical cowside test
kits are now available that use the ELISA-type tests for detecting progesterone in
milk and one for blood serum in heifers (see reference 3).
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