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Milk Progesterone for Pregnancy Diagnosis in Dairy Goats¹

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin, River Falls 54022

W. F. Hoffman

Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Platteville 53518

L. H. Schultz

Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706

S. L. Spahr and J. R. Lodge

Department of Dairy Science, University of Illinois, Urbana 51801

ABSTRACT

Factors affecting progesterone concentration in milk of lactating dairy goats and use of this milk for pregnancy diagnosis were studied. Radioimmunoassay was used to assay progesterone in milk. Mean milk progesterone (ng/ml) ± standard errors of 6 pregnant does for first, composite, and last milk were 9.9 ± 2.0, 18.2 ± 3.5, and 21.7 ± 4.1. Correlation between milk fat and progesterone in composite milk was low (.11). Composite milk samples from 4 nonpregnant does were obtained daily throughout the estrous cycle. Milk progesterone (ng/ml) was 1 to 2 at estrus, rose to 5 to 12 within 2 to 5 days, reached a plateau at 15 to 25 in the middle of the estrous cycle, and then dropped to low concentrations again at 3 to 5 days before the next estrus. Milk progesterone also was used to diagnose pregnancy in 72 does. Forty-two does were diagnosed pregnant by high progesterone; 36 of these does later produced kids, and 5 other does aborted in various stages of pregnancy. Of 21 does diagnosed not pregnant with low progesterone, 19 does were not pregnant by either return to estrus or lack of parturition in the spring. All three incorrectly diagnosed does were problem breeders. Nine does with intermediate milk progesterone were classified questionable. Milk progesterone can be used to provide an early indication of the pregnancy status of does.

¹ Supported in part by Cooperative Agricultural Research Project 038 between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, -Platteville, and -River Falls and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station.

¹ Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.