Reproductive Efficiency Determining Pregnancy Status Karla Blackstock
Reproductive efficiency has a significant economic impact on any livestock producer, and Boer goat producers are not immune. Accurate, cost-effective and convenient detection of pregnancy status allows producers to better evaluate conception rates and effectiveness of an AI/ET program. Open females can be rebred quicker to avoid losing time without kids on the ground. Pregnancy testing is an invaluable management tool by shortening kidding intervals as early as 30 days after breeding by confirming pregnancies. Technology advancements allow producers to detect pregnancies as early as 30-days bred; however, there are other alternatives that may be less invasive and/or offer a better view of the pregnancy. Blood tests remain the quickest detection method. Urine tests allow producers who do not have the ability to collect blood to test for bred females during the second and third trimester of gestation. And, ultrasound allows producers the ability to identify singles, twins, triplets and even quadruplets.
20 - The Boer Goat
Willy Tate, co-owner of BioTracking, Inc. said that blood tests are safe and effective at just 30 days post breeding by using proteins found in the blood. “Whether AI or buck bred, immediately following conception, the doe begins to produce placental protein (PSPB) that can be measured in her bloodstream at definitive levels as early as 30 days post breeding or exposure to a buck.” Tate said. “This protein is only elevated when the animal is producing a placenta and the absence of this protein is a 99.9% indicator that the animal is open. As long as the blood sample is drawn 30 days post breeding or greater.” Obtaining blood for pregnancy testing does require producers to shave a portion of the doe’s neck to draw at least 2 cc’s of blood. The blood draw can be done on the farm/ranch and shipped to a local BioPRYN lab. Tate said that the placental protein is fairly stable; therefore, refrigeration during shipment is not necessary. In fact, he said, “BioPRYN has a growing number of Affiliate Labs that offer BioPRYN that can provide local support and quick turnaround.”
