Early pregnancy detection of Holstein cows using different methods

Abstract

This study was conducted at Al-Nasr Dairy Cattle Station pertaining to the United Company for Limited Animal Resources, Swaira City (50 Km south of Baghdad) during the period from October, 2011 to July, 2012. The objective of this study was to identify the accurate method for early pregnancy detection of Holstein cows. This study involved 61 cows of 4.5 ±0.30 years old, 397.23 ±7.58 kg average body weight and 2.1±0.03 average body condition score. The cows were artificially inseminated following appearance of estrus signs. Blood samples (10 ml) were collected from each at days 35, 45 and 60 post-mating (PM) for plasma progesterone assay. Pregnancy was detected using plasma progesterone assay and Ultrasonography at days 35, 45 and 60 PM, and by rectal palpation at days 45 and 60 PM. Ultrasonography method exhibited high accuracy (96%) for early (at day 35) pregnancy detection than plasma progesterone concentrations (94.44%) and rectal palpation (68.181%) methods. In conclusion, Ultrasonography was most accurate for early (day 35 PM) pregnancy detection in Holstein cows as compared with the other methods