Distinguishing pregnant from non-pregnant ewes in early pregnancy allows for more efficient flock management by producers. While early pregnancy detection techniques like ultrasonography and hormone quantification are well established, these techniques are often not adaptable to field conditions or require specialized equipment and training. The objective of this study was to evaluate a validated bovine commercial on-farm pregnancy test on efficacy for detecting early pregnancy in distinct blood constituents of ewes. Rambouillet ewes [n = 30; average body weight (BW) = avg 60.9 ± 1.1 kg; age 2 to 8 yr) were estrous synchronized using a 5 d CIDR protocol followed by 2 injections of PGF2α at 0 and 4 h. A rattle-painted ram was subsequently placed with ewes for a 35-d breeding season. Blood constituents including whole blood (WB), plasma (PL), and serum (SE) were collected via jugular venipuncture prior to synchronization (d 0) and on d 20, 35, and 70 after breeding. Blood constituents were individually evaluated using the IDEXX Alertys OnFarm pregnancy test for pregnancy detection. Trans-abdominal ultrasonography was performed on d 35 and d 70 post-breeding. Serum progesterone (P4) was quantified on d 100 of gestation to confirm pregnancy status. Progesterone concentrations ≥ 4 ng/mL were considered pregnant. On d 20 of gestation, IDEXX tests agreed with P4 concentrations on d 100 (χ2 = 0.30) in WB, SE and PL at 35.7, 53.6, and 53.6%, respectively. Pregnancy detection accuracy increased on d 35 of gestation as IDEXX tests agreed with P4 at d 100 (χ2 = 1.00) in WB, SE, and PL at 60.7, 60.7 and 60.7% accuracy, respectively. On d 70 of gestation, IDEXX tests agreed with P4 at d 100 (χ2 = 0.81) in WB, SE, and PL at 90.7, 93.3 and 93.3% accuracy, respectively indicating similarity in pregnancy diagnosis in the two methods. Detection of pregnancy using ultrasonography at d 35 identified 33% of pregnant ewes, while d 70 ultrasound detected 93% of pregnant ewes when compared with d 100 serum P4. Results suggest that the IDEXX pregnancy test provides early diagnosis of pregnancy with d 70 results comparable to d 100 serum P4 quantification regardless of blood constituent type.

中文翻译：

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PSIV-29 溜槽侧妊娠试验对成熟朗布依埃母羊早孕测定的疗效


在怀孕早期区分怀孕的母羊和未怀孕的母羊，可以让生产者更有效地管理羊群。虽然超声检查和激素定量等早期妊娠检测技术已经很成熟，但这些技术通常无法适应现场条件或需要专门的设备和培训。本研究的目的是评估经过验证的牛商业农场妊娠试验检测母羊不同血液成分早期妊娠的疗效。朗布依埃母羊 [n = 30;平均体重 （BW） = 平均 60.9 ± 1.1 kg;年龄 2 至 8 岁）使用 5 d CIDR 方案进行发情同步，然后在 0 和 4 小时注射 2 次 PGF2α。随后，一只涂有拨浪鼓的公羊与母羊一起被放置在 35 天的繁殖季节。在同步前 （d 0） 和育种后第 20 、 35 和 70 天通过颈静脉穿刺收集包括全血 （WB） 、血浆 （PL） 和血清 （SE） 在内的血液成分。使用 IDEXX Alertys OnFarm 妊娠检测试剂盒对血液成分进行单独评估，以检测妊娠。在繁殖后第 35 天和第 70 天进行经腹超声检查。在妊娠第 100 天定量血清孕酮 （P4） 以确认妊娠状态。孕酮浓度≥ 4 ng/mL 被认为是怀孕的。在妊娠第 20 天，IDEXX 检测与 WB、SE 和 PL 中第 100 天 （χ2 = 0.30） 的 P4 浓度一致，分别为 35.7、53.6 和 53.6%。妊娠第 35 天妊娠检测准确率提高，因为 IDEXX 检测与 WB、SE 和 PL 第 100 天 （χ2 = 1.00） 的 P4 一致，准确率分别为 60.7%、60.7% 和 60.7%。在妊娠第 70 天，IDEXX 检测与 WB、SE 和 PL 第 100 天 （χ2 = 0.81） 的 P4 一致，PL 为 90.7、93.3 和 93。3% 的准确率，分别表明两种方法的妊娠诊断相似。在第 35 天使用超声检查检测妊娠可识别出 33% 的怀孕母羊，而与第 100 天血清 P4 相比，第 70 天超声检测到 93% 的怀孕母羊。结果表明，IDEXX 妊娠检测可提供妊娠早期诊断，无论血液成分类型如何，第 70 天的结果都与第 100 天的血清 P4 定量结果相当。