AgSource Laboratories recently expanded its diagnostic capabilities with a milk-based pregnancy test that the company says is a non-invasive, labor-efficient means to quickly determine if a lactating cow that has been diagnosed pregnant remains pregnant.

There is currently one milk-based pregnancy test on the market. Based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology, it detects the level of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs), which are produced when a cow is pregnant and rise in concentration in blood and milk as the gestation progresses.

This pregnancy test offers a convenient and affordable way to re-check during gestation to make sure cows remain pregnant.

Pregnancy re-check test
DHI milk testing intervals are typically not as frequent as regularly scheduled veterinary herd checks. In addition, traditional options like palpation, ultrasounds and AgSource’s DG29 blood-serum pregnancy tests can provide earlier detection and additional information such as sex, the age of calf and twinning.

For these reasons, the milk pregnancy test is best suited as a re-check test to supplement early veterinary pregnancy check programs.

The test is also flexible. Producers can select the cows they wish to test or they may elect to enroll on a confirmation or dry off option, where on each test day, all cows are automatically pregnancy tested that meet herd-specific criteria for days since last breeding.

The dry off option includes combination pricing for Johne’s and milk pregnancy testing.

Samples may be submitted between DHI test dates and herds not currently on test with AgSource are also welcome to submit samples. In those instances, sample kits and submission information may be requested directly from AgSource Laboratories in Jerome, Idaho.

Test results are available within two business days from when the samples are received in the laboratory and may be delivered electronically or in print. PD

—From AgSource Laboratories news release