Importance of Early Pregnancy Detection in Bovine
Bovine animals are precious to humans. Be it the farmers or the modern urban consumers- bovine health is essential to meet the needs of all strata of society. Early and appropriate diagnosis of reproductive pathophysiology, including pregnancy detection, is crucial to improve the reproductive management of livestock, which has a larger impact on the dairy business ecosystem. Detecting pregnancy early in cattle helps to shorten the calving interval and improve future lactation yield by adopting scientific management strategies.
There are quite a few traditional pregnancy detection methods that farmers and cattle owners use extensively. But, while some of them are time-consuming, the others are cost-intensive. Almost all of them require the intervention of a certified and qualified Vet or other technicians. This, in turn, increases the cost manifold.
To bridge this gap, Prompt has brought bovine pregnancy rapid test kits that dairy farm owners can trust regarding accuracy. But before explaining how the kit works, here’s a clearer idea about bovine pregnancy, breeding cycle, and gestation period that is crucial for calving management.
Understanding Cattle Pregnancy Detection
Different breeds of cattle attain puberty at different ages and body weights, and when they do, they become capable of normal cycling and bearing calves. For example, indigenous cattle might reach puberty by 20-24 months, whereas a Jersey crossbreed will become capable of reproducing by the age of 15-18 months with a targeted body weight (60% of adult weight). After attaining puberty and sexual maturity, and 2 months after calving, the female animal comes into the oestrum at regular intervals unless pregnant or suffers from uterine pathology. The gap period between two estruses or heat periods is the oestrous cycle, which normally lasts for 18-21 days in cattle and buffalo. Ovulation, i.e., the release of a healthy ovum from the ovarian follicle, occurs 8-12 hours after the end of behavioural oestrus. This is when the cattle are most fertile, and insemination during this period (end of behavioural oestrus following standing heat) bears the highest chance of successful fertilization.
When a cow or other female animal of the bovine species bears a fertilized ovum, the gestation period begins. This period refers to the duration from fertilization to delivering the calf. Different breeds go through different gestation periods with a narrow range of 275-285 days. In most cases, it is 283 days. If it is lengthier than 300 days, parturition must be induced to help the cattle deliver the calf.
Which methods are used for pregnancy detection in cattle?
A few traditional pregnancy detection methods are in practice, which does not involve the use of cattle pregnancy test kits. A pregnancy test will give satisfactory results only if it is done 8-10 weeks after the day of mating. The methods include:
Absence of recurrence of oestrus following breeding and external signs.
Manual per rectal palpation (35-45 days after breeding)
Transrectal ultrasound of ovaries and uterus (earliest 23 days after AI)
Measuring progesterone levels in milk or blood sample (on days 21-24 after AI)
Now, a pregnancy test kit for a cow uses a blood sample collected from the cow and measures PAG, a glycoprotein present only when the animal is bearing early pregnancy.
However, the most traditional methods mentioned above have certain limitations and, thus, are only partially reliable.
Limitations of traditional detection processes that do not use pregnancy kits for cows:
Method | Limitations/Challenges |
|---|---|
Absence of recurrence of oestrus | It may give a false indication that AI was done at the wrong time or in non-oestrus animals, or with uterine infection preventing further cyclicity. Changes noticed in external body conformation are very late and may be associated with conditions other than pregnancy, such as obesity, ascites or other pathology. |
Rectal palpation | Early examination increases the risk of iatrogenic embryonic mortality and requires Vet or an experienced technician. |
Ultrasound | Veterinary-grade USG machines are costly; high initial investment cost lowers practical implementation. Moreover, the PNDT Act (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act ) does not permit the mobility of machines in the field. |
Progesterone measurement | It applies only in cases where the exact breeding date is known. This method will not be plausible in the case of random breeding in a herd. It may give false positive results in cases of long cycles, uterine infection, embryonic mortality, etc., where CL persists in the absence of normal pregnancy. |
Other limitations include the following:
Timing
Pregnancy detection on or after the 28th day may not always be possible. Moreover, not everyone might be an expert and aware of the optimal time for pregnancy detection.
Delayed PD extends the inter-calving period
Delayed bovine pregnancy detection leads to a larger average inter-calving period of the herd. So, in one lactation period, a cow or buffalo experiences more dry days. So, the profitability decreases due to delayed productivity.
False pregnancy reports
Reproductive conditions or uterine pathologies can mimic pregnancy signs, resulting in false-positive diagnoses, while early embryonic loss or low detection efficiency can cause false negatives.
Technical imitations
Cost-intensive diagnostic techniques often can only be carried out by trained professionals and technicians. These require high-end equipment and laboratory facilities also. These are, in most cases, not accessible for routine on-farm use.
Limited resources
Those farmers living in rural areas cannot access or carry out advanced diagnostic methods to check if their cattle are pregnant. They require an easy-to-use product or service.
Inaccurate or subjective methods
Traditional methods like rectal palpation or ultrasound examination may rely on subjective observations, leading to interpretation bias and inaccuracies.
Early embryonic losses
Embryonic losses around and after the implantation period make it challenging to detect pregnancies during this critical period, leading to missed diagnoses and delayed rebreeding.
AniEasy Bovine Pregnancy Rapid Test Kit: How does this kit help in overcoming the above limitations
About the kit:
Breeders and farmers or farm owners looking for a newer and better way to detect pregnancy in their animals can now heave a sigh of relief, for Prompt has brought you a rapid bovine pregnancy test kit. This kit is for both cows and buffaloes. The product gives accurate results by analyzing the bovine blood sample and detecting PAGs or Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins.
What are the key features of the Anieasy kit?
- Longer shelf life of 18 months
- Can endure any temperature between 4oC and 30oC without being spoiled
- It gives equally trustworthy results with blood/serum/ plasma
- The kit does not require extra care for carrying in the field
- Works well in both on-farm and in-lab scenarios
- Involves easy 3-step process with easy-to-interpret results
- A dedicated control line ensures improved accuracy and test validity
Key Advantages of the AniEasy Pregnancy Detection Rapid Test Kit
Early Diagnosis
Farmers and cattle owners do not have to wait for long durations post-breeding to know the pregnancy status of the animal. AniEasy shortens the inter-calving period by detecting pregnancy after 28 days post-breeding by strategic management and rebreeding the animals at the earliest if found open/non-pregnant.
Animal Comfort
The cattle are fairly dear to the farmers or the owners. Keeping that in mind, AniEasy involves a simple process like drawing blood or plasma from the animal instead of making it uncomfortable through rectal palpation. The risk of embryonic mortality is also decreased in the absence of early rectal massage for rectal palpation or ultrasonography even.
Easy Process
No farmer or cattle owner requires special training or professional technical knowledge to perform the test. Anyone can follow the simple three steps and complete the procedure quickly.
Affordability
The bovine pregnancy rapid test kit price does not exceed the affordability of the mass. With no veterinary intervention required for detection, the cattle farmers do not need to bear that bill either.
Less Time-consuming
AniEasy has a high conformity rate with accurate results just in 20 minutes.
Improved Herd Management
Early pregnancy detection is possible with rapid tests, making herd management more efficient as the farmers or breeders can identify non-pregnant cows and rebreed them at the earliest. It also contributes to cost reduction from extra feed and labour.
A Step-by-step Guide to Use the AniEasy Bovine Pregnancy Rapid Test Kit
All it takes is three easy steps. No sound technical or biological knowledge is mandatory to perform the test and interpret the results. Here’re the steps:
Step 1: Sample Collection | Collect 2-3ml blood from the tail root of the cow or buffalo on or after the 28th day of breeding. |
Step 2: Sample Preparation | Put three drops of blood collected in step one on the test strip that comes with the cow pregnancy kit. |
Step 3: Adding Diluent | Add 2 drops of the diluent (also in the kit) into the sample and wait for 20 minutes. |
Next, incubate the test strip at room temperature for 20 minutes. But make sure the temperature does not exceed 28oC. 18-28oC will be ideal. Only 10 minutes into the process can you start interpreting the result.
Success Stories
Experience Shared by Clients and Farmers Who’ve Used AniEasy bovine pregnancy rapid test kit
AniEasy is proud to share with all of you how it has won the hearts of many customers. Farmers, breeders, cattle owners, and businesses dealing in dairy items have experienced satisfactory results using AniEasy. After using the kit, they could reduce the calving interval, due to which the profitability of their business improved significantly.
A farmer from Gujarat, India, confirms that AniEasy has contributed extensively to his business success. He says, “I started with three cows my father left me. I had no knowledge about how to understand whether my cow was pregnant. In those initial days, it was not possible for me to take my animals to the city and get their ultrasounds done. When I came to know about AniEasy and used it for the first time, I was determined to use this very product for the rest of my life. I could afford it, use it even though I did not have any knowledge, and most importantly, I did not have to wait hours or days to know the result.” Today he has a huge farm of almost twenty animals.
A cattle breeder from Uttar Pradesh, India, also voiced his satisfaction after using AniEasy. “What I like most about AniEasy is how I don’t have to hurt my animals too much to know if they are pregnant. A mere push of a needle is all it takes. Secondly, post-breeding, I have to wait only 28 days, and within 10 minutes, I have the result with me. So, my animals don’t experience longer inter-calving intervals. This increases their productivity and my profitability.”
Conclusion
AniEasy cattle pregnancy test kit addresses the three most common things farmers or breeders worry about. These include shortening the calving interval and improving calving rates, reducing cow stress response, and finally, improving the productivity and profitability of the farm. The more accurate the pregnancy detection is, the higher the profitability and better the animal health. Cattle farmers searching for ways to better herd management have nowhere further to look at.
Frequently Asked Questions on Anieasy Bovine Pregnancy Rapid Test Kit
- How do I know if the animal is pregnant with the rapid test kit?
Each test strip comes with in-built red latex microspheres. These are the indicators. The results are rapid and visual. Post incubation, the strips show colour-coded results indicating whether the animal is pregnant. For a better understanding, you can refer to the brochure.
- Can I use it for a large farm?
Yes. The bovine pregnancy rapid test kit is suitable for all types of farms. Whether you own a small, medium or large farm, AniEasy will help you detect which animals on your farm are pregnant.
- How can I shorten the calving interval?
AniEasy is the answer you are looking for. The 28-day pregnancy testing kit helps you identify open animals to treat them timely. Thus you have animals for rebreeding while maintaining a barren postpartum interval of around 60 days or less. Thus, you shorten the calving interval. As a result, you can have better milk yield and healthier cattle on your farm.
- How much does AniEasy cost?
The AniEasy cow pregnancy test kit price is kept well within everyone’s affordability. The exact price might vary due to manufacturing and transportation costs. However, get in touch with us at your favourable time and location, or give us a call for further details. Contact us here.
- How long can I store it?
AniEasy does not require any special care for storage or usage. You can keep it for 18 months without worrying about spoilage at a temperature of 4°C-30°C. We assure you of its specificity (98.43%), which, in turn, ensures high accuracy.
- Do we need any machine for the result from the AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit?
No, we do not need any machine for the result from the AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit.
- Is the AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit easy to use?
Yes, the AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit is very easy to use.
- How does the AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit differ from other pregnancy detection methods?
AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit is a non-invasive, fast, and easy-to-use affordable method for early pregnancy detection in cattle and buffalo.
- Can AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit be used for other animals?
No, the AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit is designed for pregnancy detection in cattle and buffalo only.
- Can AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit be used for human pregnancy detection?
No, the AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit is not designed for human pregnancy detection.
AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit is a non-invasive, fast, and easy-to-use method for pregnancy detection in cattle and buffalo.
- Can AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit be used for other animals?
No, AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit is designed for pregnancy detection in cattle and buffalo only.
- Can AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit be used for human pregnancy detection?
No, AniEasy Rapid Pregnancy detection kit is not designed for human pregnancy detection.
