The Heataid kit

Using Progesterone Tests
to get the best results from your herd

Progesterone is a reproductive hormone which is present at a high level during parts of the cow’s oestrus cycle and during pregnancy but falls to a low level before heat and ovulation. Testing progesterone levels in the milk can provide reliable information on the reproductive state of the cow – helping to improve reproductive management and economic performance of your herd.

Applications of progesterone testing
to improve herd fertility

Confirmation of heat

Farm studies have shown that up to 20% of dairy cows presented for insemination are not actually in heat, as a result of questionable behavioural signs or mistakes in observation. Up to 5% of cows show signs of oestrus even though pregnant. Heataid will identify animals which have high progesterone levels and therefore not ready for service. These animals can be monitored using either Heataid or behaviour for true oestrus, avoiding unnecessary expense on inseminations. Low progesterone levels mean that the animal is ready to be bred.

Early identification of animals returning to heat after service

Failure of a cow to respond to service will extend the overall calving interval of the herd with associated losses in productivity and increased costs for feed and management. Heataid lets the herdsman identify those cows which are not pregnant by day 21, allowing rapid re-insemination and reducing open time by at least 3 weeks.

Milk samples are collected from each cow 19 days after insemination will identify animals with low progesterone levels which should then be monitored carefully for signs of heat. Repeat sampling at days 21 and 24 will confirm non-pregnant animals.

Investigation of poor reproductive performance

Regular testing of cows for progesterone using Heataid can be useful in herd management and in investigating problem cows before making culling decisions. Collecting samples from non-pregnant animals at weekly intervals over 6-8 weeks should show low progesterone levels once in every 3-4 samples. If this is seen then the animal may be showing silent heats or there may room for improvement in the herd heat detection. Constantly high or low levels are good reasons to consult your vet to see if the animal is anoestrus, or if a cystic corpus luteum is present.

Prediction of oestrus

The most profitable dairy herds have average calving intervals approaching 365 days. Reaching this target is dependent on successfully identifying cows in heat and in ensuring return to service is rapidly detected to minimise the days open.

Heataid can be used to ensure that the cow’s return to oestrus after calving is not missed. At 25 days after calving samples are collected twice weekly until a low level of progesterone is detected. This confirms that the oestrus cycle has started again. 16 days later samples are collected every other day until low progesterone is detected, the cow should then be inseminated the following day. 19 days after insemination progesterone should be checked every other day. If levels remain high the cow is considered pregnant if the levels fall the cow should be served again and the process repeated.

Confirmation of ovulation in synchronised cows

Where prostaglandin or other means are used to synchronise reproductive cycles Heataid can be used to ensure ovulation has occurred by testing 72 hours before the scheduled service. Following service testing can be used at day 19 onwards to confirm that the animal has responded to service.

Determination of reproductive health

Erratic reproductive cycles or progesterone levels which remain inappropriately high or low may indicate reproductive problems. Up to 14% of breeding cows may have cystic ovaries and up to half of all cows may develop this problem over their lifetime. Heataid may help your vet to identify animals with cystic corporea lutea and to monitor any treatment