Page 7 - MWC 08-19-2021s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 19, 2021 · P7
EARLY PREGNANCY DETECTION

By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator
Early pregnancy detection icant difference on how early October or No-
in replacement heifers or cows in this range that pregnancy vember.
is a tool producers can use to can be detected. 2. The sec-
increase profit. Traditionally, Producers should realize ond is that
cows and replacement heif- that stress to heifers and cows cows that are
ers are pregnancy tested in early in pregnancy can result nursing a calf
the fall of the year and then in loss. Research has shown a will typical-
non-pregnant cows and cull pregnancy loss of 1-3.5% when ly lose weight
cows are marketed at that palpation or ultrasound are from August
time. This is also when cull used for pregnancy diagnosis through the
cow prices are seasonally at at 40 - 75 days of gestation. time that Pregnancy can be detected in cows as early as 30 days using
ultrasound and blood tests. Photo credit Troy Walz.
their lowest. Selling Non-pregnant calves are pregnancy test at weaning.
Timing of Pregnancy Test Cows in August weaned due to forage quality Early weaning calves from
Pregnancy can be detected For cow herds calving Jan- having matured and decreas- cows in August will require
in cows as early as 30 days uary - April, cows can be preg- ing in its nutritive value. additional high-quality feed
using ultrasound and blood nancy tested in late August Selling non-pregnant cows and management. However,
tests. and non-pregnant cows sold in August when they weigh calves at this age are very ef-
For cows to be identified as at that time. Marketing at more and prices are seasonal- ficient and the cost of supple-
pregnant utilizing the palpa- this time provides two advan- ly higher provides the oppor- mental feed is often not much
tion method, cows often need tages. tunity for producers to cap- more expensive than the cost
to be at least 35-50 days preg- 1. The first is that cull cow ture more value from these of carrying the pair.
nant. Experience of the person prices in August tend to be cows than leaving the calves
palpating can make a signif- 5-10% higher than they are in on the cows and waiting to Comparing Methods of
Pregnancy Testing
There are several advan-
tages and disadvantages to
each of the three methods of
pregnancy testing. In some
instances, using a combina-

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