Pregnancy Diagnosis Methods in Cows

In cattle farms, optimising milk yield and fertility is crucial in terms of sustainability and economics. In order to optimise these parameters, each cow should have a calf every 12-14 months. For this purpose, cows should be pregnant during the earliest postpartum period and undergo pregnancy examinations promptly. Early diagnosis of pregnancy on cattle farms is essential for reproductive management. Methods of pregnancy diagnosis are divided into two groups, direct and indirect. Direct diagnostic methods objectively determine the state of pregnancy. Indirect diagnostic methods provide information about pregnancy through biomarkers formed in the maternal circulation during pregnancy. An ideal pregnancy test should be able to give accurate results in early pregnancy (high sensitivity and specificity) and should be low cost and easy to apply. Although direct diagnostic methods are the most commonly used today, it is predicted that the frequency of use of indirect diagnostic methods will increase and new methods will be developed as a result of developing technology and progress in scientific studies. The present review aims to inform the readers about the methods that can be used in the diagnosis of pregnancy in cows, how these methods are performed, their advantages and disadvantages compared to each other.