Economic evaluation of pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cattle: a decision analysis approach

Cost-benefit evaluations of several pregnancy diagnosis schemes were performed. The strategy using on-farm milk progesterone test on d 19 after service, followed by treatment of nonpregnant cows with prostaglandin, was the most profitable returning $10.50 per cow above the cost of the intervention. An increase in efficiency of detection of estrus of greater than 20% among cows diagnosed nonpregnant and an error rate in pregnancy diagnosis of less than or equal to 3% were needed to ensure profitability. Pregnancy diagnosis by uterine palpation per rectum on d 35 after service, combined with the use of pressure-sensitive mounting devices on nonpregnant cows was the second most profitable strategy and returned $5.10 per cow. An increase in efficiency of detection of estrus of greater than or equal to 20% was required to ensure profitability. Embryonic mortality was also critical and an increase from a baseline value of 10% to 12%, as a result of early uterine palpation, made this scheme unprofitable ($-4.80 per cow). Pregnancy diagnosis by uterine palpation per rectum at 50 or 65 d was less profitable, with a return of $2.50 and $.10 per cow, respectively.