Although there are many methods to improve the breeding efficiency of cattle farms, one of the most important and often overlooked methods is pregnancy diagnosis. Whether the farm operates beef or dairy cows, pregnancy of cows is crucial for obtaining the desired products (milk or raising calves). Only about 10% of beef cattle in the southeastern region undergo pregnancy testing annually. What does this mean for individual producers? Among a herd of 50 eligible cows on average, approximately 5 cows (10%) will be "open" each year. If the cost of maintaining each cow is 3600 yuan, then the cost of raising these "open" cows on the farm is 18000 yuan. In addition to the cost of maintaining these cows, the breeders also lost approximately 30000 yuan in calves that were not produced.

Pregnancy B-ultrasound machine detection of cattle

There are several methods for diagnosing pregnancy in cows: transrectal palpation, transrectal ultrasound, and blood or milk testing for progesterone levels or pregnancy related glycoproteins.

Transrectal palpation - This technique can be performed by experienced veterinarians as early as 35 days after mating. At this stage of pregnancy, veterinarians can detect 2 out of the 4 main signs of pregnancy, including chorioallantoic membrane slippage and amniotic vesicle. If the cow is found to be "open", the activity of the ovaries can also be evaluated.

Using a cow ultrasound machine to detect cow pregnancy - this technique can be performed by experienced veterinarians as early as 28 days after mating. Compared to standalone transrectal palpation, transrectal ultrasound provides additional information. Veterinarians can see the heartbeat of fetuses and the presence of twins. The gender of the fetus can also be determined 55-70 days after mating. Can evaluate ovarian cysts or other abnormal conditions.

Progesterone level test - Progesterone levels can be tested on blood or milk samples at least 21-24 days after mating. However, high progesterone levels do not always mean pregnancy. There may be false positives at certain times during the cow cycle. In other words, cows may only be in estrus. Although false positives may occur, the test will not produce false negative results. This is very important because you can trust that if progesterone levels are low, you can determine that the cow is not pregnant.

Pregnancy associated glycoprotein (PAG) testing - During pregnancy, certain cells in the placenta and uterus produce PAG. Test for the presence of PAG in blood or milk samples. Cows must be at least 90 days postpartum and 30 days after mating. Due to the long time these PAGs remain in the body, testing before 90 days postpartum may result in false positive results. False positives may also occur within a few days after a cow miscarriages. It is recommended to have the cow re examined by a veterinarian around 60 days of pregnancy, as the chance of miscarriage will be greatly reduced thereafter. At this point, veterinarians can also use ultrasound to examine the fetus and confirm that it is still alive. Similar to progesterone testing, PAG testing does not produce false negatives. If the PAG level is low, you can confirm that the cow is not pregnant. You can decide to slaughter these cows or use * * glandular hormones to "shorten the cycle" them, and be sure that there will be no miscarriage. Then the injected cows can be re exposed to bulls or artificially fertilized.

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