Oestrus prediction in dairy cows using an ELISA progesterone test.

The commercially available test kit for assaying milk progesterone was used in the practice laboratory on samples taken daily from cows 17 to 24 days after service. Improved oestrus detection rates and accuracy were achieved by predicting the onset of oestrus. Similar results were obtained by sampling on days 18, 20, 22 and 24 or on days 19, 21 and 23 after service. Calving to conception intervals improved from 115 to 84 days in one herd and from 85 to 74 days in another and the potential economic benefits in these two herds outweighed the costs by 7.4:1 and 3.4:1, respectively.