Comparison of pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cattle by use of a commercial ELISA and palpation per rectum

Abstract

Objective: To compare agreement between 2 pregnancy tests in dairy cattle.

Design: Evaluation study.

Animals: 976 and 507 cattle for phases 1 and 2, respectively.

Procedures: Blood samples were collected, and palpation per rectum (PPR) was performed on cattle. Blood samples for the pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) ELISA were sent by courier to a commercial laboratory with results returned later. Results of PPR were extracted from herd records. Statistical comparison of results was performed by use of a mixed linear model and N analysis.

Results: Of 571 cattle classified as pregnant by the PSPB ELISA in phase 1, 30 (5%) were nonpregnant by PPR. Mean +/- SE adjusted optical density (OD) of cattle classified pregnant by both tests was significantly higher (0.31 +/- 0.01), compared with the adjusted OD of cattle classified pregnant by the PSPB ELISA and nonpregnant by PPR (0.22 +/- 0.02). Of 255 cows classified pregnant by the PSPB ELISA in phase 2, 31 (12%) were nonpregnant by PPR. Mean +/- SE adjusted OD of cattle classified pregnant by both tests was significantly higher (0.26 +/- 0.01), compared with the adjusted OD of cattle classified pregnant by the PSPB ELISA and nonpregnant by PPR (0.21 +/- 0.01). The N value was 0.82 and 0.81 for phases 1 and 2, respectively.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Good agreement existed between the 2 tests, especially at longer intervals after insemination. Discrepant results appeared to be attributable to a nonviable fetus, embryonic loss, or fetal loss.