Repeat Breeder Cows and Buffaloes: Lab Tests That Help

A repeat breeder is a cow or buffalo that fails to become pregnant after several services, even though she seems to come into heat normally. Lab tests for the hormone progesterone, for womb infection and for herd diseases such as brucellosis can help a vet look for the cause. They help most after the vet has examined the animal.

Why does an animal fail to conceive?

There is rarely one reason. The common ones include heat that is missed or mistimed, a womb infection, a hormone problem that stops an egg from being released or the pregnancy from holding, poor feeding and body condition, and infectious diseases that cause early loss of the pregnancy. Sometimes the problem is in the semen or the way it was used. This is why vets start with an examination and a good set of records, and use tests to narrow the search.

What should you record first?

Keep a simple breeding record for each animal: the date of each heat that you saw, each service and which bull or semen was used, the dates of calving, any discharge from the womb and any illness. A vet can learn a lot from a clear record, sometimes more than from a single test. Bring it to every visit. Buffaloes often show heat quietly, so a notebook kept by the person who looks after the animal every day is valuable. Note the signs you noticed, such as restlessness, mucus, mounting or a drop in milk, and the date each one appeared. If heats are being missed altogether, the vet may talk about heat detection before ordering any test.

Which lab tests may help?

• The Progesterone, Serum measures progesterone in the blood. It rises after an egg is released, so a vet can judge whether the animal is cycling normally and at which stage she is.
• The Uterine Discharge Swab Culture & Sensitivity looks for germs in womb discharge and shows which antibiotics may work against them. The vet takes the swab with clean, protected tools, before any antibiotic is used.
• The Brucellosis Test (RBPT / ELISA) screens for brucellosis, which can cause abortion and can pass to people through milk and birth fluids.
• The Pregnancy Diagnosis for Cow & Buffalo (Progesterone / PSPB) checks whether an animal is pregnant, which avoids waiting for months to find out that she is not.

The lab report shows the reference range, and a registered veterinarian reads it with the animal's history and examination. A negative result does not always rule out a problem, and the lab confirms the sample needs and the reporting time when you book.

If several animals in the herd fail to conceive or abort, the cause may be an infection that is passing between them, and testing a few animals can show it. Wash your hands and wear gloves when handling birth material or discharge, and speak to a doctor if you feel unwell. Brucellosis is also a reason to test animals before they join a herd.

Is there a package for this?

The Repeat Breeder Fertility Pack groups a progesterone test, a brucellosis test, a uterine swab culture and a pregnancy test. It is a convenient bundle, and your vet can add or take away tests to suit the animal.

What happens after the results?

Your vet decides whether to treat an infection, adjust the time of service, check the semen or the feed, or rest the animal. The lab gives no treatment advice. Keep the reports with the breeding record so that you can see patterns across seasons.

Blood goes into the tube the lab names and is kept cool. A womb swab is taken by the vet and sent in a transport tube. Label every sample with the animal's number, the date and the vet's name, and phone the lab before sending.

Read next

For a closer look at pregnancy checks, read Pregnancy Diagnosis in Cows and Buffaloes: Progesterone and PSPB. A broader list of tests for dairy farms is in Lab Tests Every Dairy Farmer Should Know About.

Testing in Bhopal

Your vet usually takes the samples, and the lab at C-200, C Sector, Shahpura, Bhopal accepts them. Collection is free anywhere in Bhopal, and other districts can send samples by courier, bus parcel or through their vet. Call or WhatsApp +91 88175 01118; the lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.