FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABS Tech Services Monitoring Blood Progesterone Concentrations

DEFOREST, WISCONSIN - May 17, 2005 - ABS Global Technical Services now offers blood progesterone testing for use in reproductive management.

"Analyzing progesterone levels using blood samples allows dairy producers and consultants to more accurately troubleshoot and monitor the dairy’s reproductive performance," stated Dr. Hernando Lopez, PhD ABS Global Technical Service Consultant. "By providing this service we will enable dairy producers to be even more proactive in identifying and removing roadblocks that hinder increased reproductive performance, efficiency, and overall dairy profitability."

Why should blood progesterone concentrations be monitored? Inaccurate heat detection is costly. Research has estimated between 5 to 25 percent of cows are not in heat when inseminated and in some problem herds this number can be as high as 60 percent. Additionally, low heat detection accuracy can increase the incidence of pregnancies lost because insemination of pregnant cows can induce embryonic death or abortion.

Monitoring synchronization protocol efficiency can be challenging. To obtain good efficiency requires all protocol injections to be administered correctly and given at the appropriate times. In practice, it can be difficult to track compliance of injections. However, according to university research, when the protocol is correctly applied, a synchronization rate ranging from 80 to 90 percent can be obtained for Ovsynch and Presynch-Ovsynch protocols.

The negative impact of anovulation on reproductive efficiency is well known. Non-cycling cows do not conceive and might not respond to synchronization protocols delaying the occurrence of first ovulation. Although they do not ovulate, some show heat and might be inseminated, resulting in a considerable loss of semen and labor. Research has reported between 15 to 25 percent of cows are non-cycling by 45 to 70 days postpartum. A high incidence of non-cycling cows is associated with poor timed breeding results.

Managing a successful artificial insemination program includes not only time, technique, and expertise but also monitoring to maximize results. Blood progesterone concentrations can be used to evaluate heat detection accuracy, synchronization efficiency, and animal cyclicity. Contact ABS Technical Services for more information on sample collection, submission and costs.

Figure 1: Blood progesterone testing results for RMS dairies, goals and observed research *Routine monitoring of RMS® dairies (n=782) has assisted ABS customers in improving their heat detection accuracy, synchronization efficiency and cyclicity to high levels

Headquartered in DeForest, Wisconsin, ABS Global is the world-leading provider of bovine genetics, reproduction services, technologies and uddercare products. Marketing in more than 70 countries around the globe, ABS has been at the forefront of animal genetics and technology since its founding in 1941. ABS Global is part of Genus Breeding, a division of Genus plc.

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To receive the contents of this release electronically, please contact Alice Langer at alanger@absglobal.com, or (608) 846-6203.

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