A new dried milk sampling technique and its application for progesterone detection in cows

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Reproductive Biology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Accurate pregnancy diagnosis in cattle is crucial for herd management and economic viability.
• Traditional milk progesterone analysis requires prompt sample processing and cold chain maintenance.
• A simplified, stable milk sampling method is needed to overcome logistical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a new dried milk sampling technique for progesterone analysis.
• To assess the correlation between progesterone levels in dried and liquid milk samples.
• To determine the accuracy of milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for pregnancy diagnosis in cows using the dried sample method.

Main Methods:

• Whole milk samples were collected 21 days post-insemination.
• Samples were applied to a porous membrane and dried.
• Progesterone levels were quantified using ELISA in both dried and liquid milk samples.
• Correlation analysis was performed on paired dried and liquid samples.

Main Results:

• Progesterone levels in dried milk samples showed a high correlation with those in liquid samples (r=0.911).
• The dried milk sampling method proved effective for progesterone quantification.
• The milk progesterone ELISA achieved an 87% accuracy for pregnancy diagnosis in cows.

Conclusions:

• The dried milk sampling technique is a viable and accurate method for progesterone analysis in cattle.
• This method simplifies sample collection and storage, facilitating wider application in reproductive diagnostics.
• Dried milk progesterone ELISA is a reliable tool for efficient pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cows.