Abstract
Oestrus detection in dairy cows has been the subject of many studies and various methods of improving oestrus detection have been investigated and reviewed by Boyd ( 1984). Poor oestrus detection will extend the calving to conception interval by prolonging both the calving to first service and first service to conception intervals (Eddy 1980). The availability of a commercially produced enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test kit (Ovucheck; Cambridge Veterinary Sciences) stimulated the setting up of trials to study oestrus detection rates and detection efficiency after first service. This paper reports the results of these trials. Trial 1 demonstrated that the E.I.A. for progesterone could be readily performed in the practice laboratory and Trial 2 demonstrated that similar improvements in accuracy and detection rates could be achieved by alternate day sampling. Oestrus detection remains a problem in many large dairy herds using artificial insemination and these trials demonstrate a place for oestrus prediction using E.I.A.
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