B.AWW.0007 - Agscent Cow Breath Sampling: pregnancy diagnosis proof of concept
Understanding when a cow is pregnant is critical to livestock production and producer financial viability. This research project undertook to identify a process using a unique (and novel) breath collection device to detect early pregnancy.
| Project start date: | 23 June 2019 |
| Project end date: | 14 May 2022 |
| Publication date: | 20 May 2024 |
| Project status: | Terminated |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National, International |
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Summary
The principal project objective was to develop and refine, to a point of commercialisation, a non-invasive point of need (field) device capable of early detection of pregnancy in cattle as an alternative to palpation or ultrasound.
Objectives
Accuracy: <3% false positive [specificity], and <5% false negative [sensitivity]) for pregnancy testing at 40 and 60 days in cows with known breeding/ insemination dates, using rectal palpation and ultrasound for comparison, and eventual calving results for confirmation. Cows tested pregnant, but not delivering a calf at term, will be appropriately inspected for a possible cause of foetal loss.
Operational speed: min 60 cows per hour.
Key findings
The project identified that operational speed for the device was on average 10 seconds for breath collection and 60 seconds for e-nose processing, however the sensitivity and specificity was not achieved.
Benefits to industry
A a non-invasive point of need (field) device capable of early detection of pregnancy in cattle as an alternative to palpation or ultrasound would create significant operational efficiency for Australian cattle producers.
More information
| Project manager: | Joshua Whelan |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | Agscent Pty Ltd |
