Early pregnancy diagnosis in cows is a procedure that can help producers to identify pregnant or non-pregnant cows and make management or marketing decisions accordingly. There are different methods available for pregnancy diagnosis in cows, such as:
Rectal palpation: This is a manual technique that involves inserting a hand into the rectum of the cow and feeling the reproductive tract for signs of pregnancy. This method can detect pregnancy as early as 35-50 days, but it requires an experienced operator and can cause stress or injury to the cow or the fetus. More importantly, in real farm practice, it can only detect pregnancy after 60 days.
Ultrasound: This is a technique that uses sound waves to create an image of the reproductive tract on a monitor. This method can detect pregnancy as early as 25-30 days, and can also determine the sex of the calf. However, it requires an expensive equipment and a skilled operator, and it can be affected by factors such as body condition, hair coat, and ambient light. Sometimes, when the cow experiences embryo loss, this can lead to false result.
Blood test: This is a technique that uses a blood sample from the cow to measure the level of a placental hormone, such as the Ringbio bovine pregnancy rapid test kit, based on the detection of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs), that indicates pregnancy. This method can detect pregnancy as early as 28-30 days, and does not require an experienced operator or a special equipment. This test has relatively lower cost compared with ultrasound scanners, which can be used for large scale sample testing. By improving the reproduction efficiency, the kit can actually save a lot.
Since each method has its advantages and disadvantages, producers should choose the one that suits their needs and goals best. Early pregnancy diagnosis in cows can provide economic benefits by reducing the costs of maintaining non-pregnant cows, improving the culling decisions, and planning for the replacement needs.