title: On-farm milk progesterone tests.
abstract: Results from milk progesterone assays can provide ovarian information, making it possible to monitor the reproductive status of the cow. Rapid, simple, and accurate on-farm milk progesterone tests are commercially available. Procedures for performing milk progesterone tests are specific for each test; however, principles of testing are similar. On-farm tests are designed to determine the relative progesterone concentration ("high" or "low") rather than obtaining a precise concentration. Evaluation of results is based on either a color or agglutination reaction with comparison to known standards. Potential uses of progesterone testing in a reproductive management program are: 1) identifying errors in detection of estrus, 2) predicting time of estrus, 3) assisting in pregnancy diagnosis, 4) differentiating types of ovarian cysts, and 5) evaluating response to endocrine therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Nebel
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone