Services of Veterinary Medicine

Laboratory service for milk progesterone quantitative analyses and counceling

Status

Internationally recognized method and gold standard

Keywords: milk progesterone, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), cattle, fertility, reproductive performance, reproductive management

Focus groups

- Universities, research institutes and companies

Focus areas

  1. Research on reproductive function of cattle.
  2. Reproductive management of cattle (early detection of non-pregnant cows, detection of commencement of luteal activity, detection of abnormal oestrous cycles, measuring efficiency and accuracy of detection of estrus, identification of inseminations performed at wrong time).

Counselling

We give advice on interpretation of results and how to best use milk progesterone analysis for the fertility management of cattle.

Method

            Milk progesterone is analyzed by using a quantitative enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The progesterone specific monoclonal antibody used in the EIA has been carefully selected for the measurement of progesterone in milk (Waldmann 1999). The use of the anti-progesterone monoclonal antibody reinforces high sensitivity, accuracy and precision of the EIA. The advantage of the EIA, compared to other milk progesterone immunoassays, is that the changing of milk fat concentrations does not affect progesterone concentrations, thus allowing precise analysis of progesterone from milk samples with different milk-fat concentrations. The EIA is internationally recognized as a gold standard and a research tool in studying reproductive function in dairy, beef and Tanzanian zebu cattle.

References and peer reviewed international publications in which the milk progesterone EIA method was used to study reproductive function in cattle

  1. Waldmann, A.; Raud, A. (2016). Comparison of a lateral flow milk progesterone test with enzyme immunoassay as an aid for reproductive status determination in cows. Veterinary Record, 178:260 doi:10.1136/vr.103605.
  2. Dobson H. (2016). Measuring progesterone from the milk line. Veterinary Record. 178:258-9. doi: 10.1136/vr.i1453.
  3. Sveberg, G.; Rogers, G.W.; Cooper, J.; Refsdal, A.O.; Erhard, H.W.; Kommisrud, E.; Buckley, F.; Waldmann, A.; Ropstad, E. (2015). Comparison of Holstein-Friesian and Norwegian Red dairy cattle for estrus length and estrous signs. Journal of Dairy Science, 98 (4), 2450−2461.
  4. Martin, A.D.; Afseth, N.K.; Kohler, A.; Randby, Å.; Eknæs, M., Waldmann, A.; Dørum, G.; Måge, I; Reksen, O. (2015). The relationship between fatty acid profiles in milk identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and onset of luteal activity in Norwegian dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 98 (8), 5374−5384.
  5. Waldmann, A.; Raud, A. (2015). Lateral flow milk progesterone test - comparisons with EIA for confirmation of oestrus and nonpregnancy diagnosis in cows.  In: Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 50: 19th Annual Conference of the European-Society-for-Domestic-Animal-Reproduction (ESDAR), Albena, Bulgaria, 17-19 Sept 2015. Wiley-Blackwell, 82−82. (Supplement 3).
  6. Kiiver, H.; Kommisrud, E.; Soidra, K.; Waldmann, A. (2015). Effects of milk progesterone and activity level on pregnancy rate in dairy cows using the Ovsynch protocol.  In: Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 50: 19th Annual Conference of the European-Society-for-Domestic-Animal-Reproduction (ESDAR), Albena, Bulgaria, 17-19 Sept 2015. Wiley-Blackwell, 41−41. (Supplement: 3). 5.1. 
  7. Schneider A, Corrêa MN, Butler WR. Association between growth hormone receptor AluI polymorphism and fertility of Holstein cows. Theriogenology. 2013 Dec;80(9):1061-6.
  8. Sveberg, G., Refsdal, A.O., Erhard, H.W., Kommisrud, E., Aldrin, M., Tvete, I.F., Buckley, F., Waldmann, A., Ropstad, E., 2013, Sexually active groups in cattle—A novel estrus sign. J. Dairy Sci.
  9. Valdmann, M.; Kurykin, J.; Mällo, G.-K.; Waldmann, A. (2011). Associations of cytological endometritis with ovarian function in dairy cows. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 46(s3), 157 - 157.
  10. Sveberg, G.; Refsdal, A.O.; Erhard, H.W.; Kommisrud, E.; Aldrin, M.; Tvete, I.F.; Buckley, F.; Waldmann, A.; Ropstad, E. 2011. Behavior of Lactating Holstein Friesian Cows during Spontaneous Cycles of Estrus. Journal of Dairy Science, 94(3), 1289-1301.
  11. Jeremejeva, J.; Orro, T.; Waldmann, A.; Lindjärv, R.; Kask, K. 2010. Effect of two different treatments on the clinical signs and inflammatory parameters in case of experimentally induced acute puerperal metritis in dairy cows. Veterinarija ir zootechnika, 52 (74), 49-58.
  12. Martin, A.D.; Lystad, M.L.; Reksen, O.; Ropstad, E.; Waldmann, A.; Nafstad, O.; Karlberg, K. (2010). Assessment of progesterone profiles and postpartum onset of luteal activity in spring calving Hereford beef suckler cattle. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 52(42), 1 - 8.
  13. Garmo, R. T.; Martin, A.D.; Thuen, E.; Havrevoll, Ø.; Steinshamn, H.; Prestløkken, E; Randby, Å.; Eknæs, M; Waldmann, A.; Reksen, O. (2009). Characterization of progesterone profiles in fall-calving Norwegian Red cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 92(10), 4919 - 4928.
  14. Kalmus, P.; Orro, T.; Waldmann, A.; Lindjärv, R.; Kask, K. (2009). Effect of yeast culture on milk production and metabolic and reproductive performance of early lactation dairy cows. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 51, 32
  15. Garmo, R. T.; Ropstad, E.; Havrevoll, Ø.; Thuen, E.; Steinshamn, H.; Waldmann, A.; Reksen, O. (2009). Commencement of luteal activity in three different selection lines for milk yield and fertility in Norwegian Red cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 92(5), 2159 - 2165.
  16. Mällo, G.K.; Kaart, T.; Sveberg, G.; Reksen, O.; Ropstad, E.; Waldmann, A. (2009). Analysis of insemination results compared to activity alarms and progesterone measurements in dairy cows. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 44(s3), 115.
  17. Garmo, R.T.; Refsdal, A.O.; Karlberg, K.; Ropstad, E.; Waldmann, A.; Beckers, J.F.; Reksen, O. (2008). Pregnancy incidence in Norwegian Red cows using nonreturn to estrus, rectal palpation, pregnancy-associated glycoproteins, and progesterone. Journal of Dairy Science, 91(8), 3025 - 3033.
  18. Samarütel, J.; Ling, K.; Waldmann, A.; Jaakson, H.; Kaart, T.; Leesmäe, A. (2008). Field Trial on Progesterone Cycles, Metabolic Profiles, Body Condition Score and their Relation to Fertility in Estonian Holstein Dairy Cows. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 43(4), 457 - 463.
  19. Samarütel, J.; Waldmann, A.; Ling, K.; Jaakson, H.; Kaart, T.; Leesmäe, A.; Kärt, O. (2008). Relationships between luteal activity, fertility, blood metabolites and body condition score in multiparous Estonian Holstein dairy cows under different management. Journal of Dairy Research , 75, 485 - 490.
  20. Matiko, M.K.; Kanuya, N.L.; Waldmann, A.; Ropstad, E.; Reksen, O. (2008). Environmental constraints on post partum ovarian activity in Tanzanian Zebu cows. Theriogenology, 69(7), 896 - 904.
  21. Mällo, G.K.; Kaart, T.; Oherd, P.; Sveberg, G.; Reksen, O.; Ropstad, E.; Waldmann, A. (2008). Oestrous detection in a large commercial dairy herd; a comparison of the effectiveness of radiotelemetric activity with milk progesterone measurements. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 43(s3), 51.
  22. Ling, K.; Waldmann, A.; Samarütel, J.; Jaakson, H.; Kaart, T.; Leesmäe, A. (2007). Field trial on the relation of blood metabolites and body condition score to the recurrence of luteal activity in Estonian Holstein cows. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series a-Physiology Pathology Clinical Medicine, 54(7), 337 - 341.
  23. Martin, A.D.; Karlberg, K.; Ropstad, E.; Reksen, O.; Waldmann, A.; Lystad, M.L. (2007). The Reproductive Performance of Hereford Cattle Using Milk Progesterone Analysis. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 42(s2), 116 - 116.
  24. Waldmann, A., Kurykin, J., Jaakma, Ü. Kaart, T., Jalakas, M., Aidnik, M., Majas, L., Padrik, P. 2006. The effects of ovarian function on estrus synchronization with PGF in dairy cows. Theriogenology 66, 1364-1374.
  25. Kanuya N.L., Matiko M.K., Kessy B.M., Mgongo F.O., Ropstad E., and Reksen O. 2006. A study on reproductive performance and related factors of zebu cows in pastoral herds in a semi-arid area of Tanzania. Theriogenology 65, 1859-74.
  26. Reksen O., Havrevoll, Ø., Gröhn Y.T., Bolstad T., Waldmann, A., Ropstad E. 2002. Relationships among body condition score, milk constituents, and postpartum luteal function in Norwegian dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 85, 1406-15.
  27. Reksen O., Gröhn Y.T., Havrevoll, Ø., Bolstad T., Waldmann, A., Ropstad E. 2002. Relationships among progesterone, concentrate allocation, energy balance, milk yield and conception rate in Norwegian cattle. Anim Reprod Sci. 73, 169-184.
  28. Reksen O., Gröhn Y.T., Havrevoll, Ø., Bolstad T., Waldmann, A., Ropstad E. 2001. Influence of concentrate allocation and energy balance and post partum ovarian activity in Norwegian Cattle. J Dairy Sci. 84, 1060-1068.
  29. Waldmann A., Reksen, O., Landsverk K., Kommisrud, E., Dahl E., Refsdal, A.O., Ropstad  E. 2001. Progesterone concentrations in milk fat at first insemination-effects on non-return and repeat-breeding. Anim Reprod Sci. 65, 33 - 41.
  30. Waldmann A., Ropstad E., Landsverk K., Sørensen K., Sølverød L., Dahl E. 1999. Level and distribution of progesterone in bovine milk in relation to the storage in the mammary gland. Anim Reprod Sci. 56, 79-91.
  31. Waldmann A. 1999. Monoclonal antibodies to progesterone: characterization and selection for enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in bovine milk. Hybridoma 18, 289-296.

 

Further information:

Andres Valdmann

Professor in animal endocrinology

Phone: +372 731 3484; +37255599081

E-mail: andres.valdmann@emu.ee

Department of Reproductive Biology

Estonian University of Life Sciences

http://vl.emu.ee/en