Application of Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAGS) to Improve Reproductive Efficiency in Cattle

Increasing profitability of a beef or dairy herd is dependent upon increasing reproductive efficiency. In the U.S., the annual cost of reproductive failure to the beef and dairy industries is estimated to be $600 million and 1.4 billion, respectively, which is most likely a gross underestimate of the actual cost. The exact causes of reproductive failure include management issues, cow infertility, bull infertility, heat stress, and embryonic mortality. In order to increase reproductive efficiency there has been a rapid development and utilization of reproductive technologies (e.g. fixed–time artificial insemination [FTAI], estrus synchronization [ES], real-time ultrasonography, and chemical based pregnancy testing [PAGs]) that can improve both the reproductive management and genetic merit of a cattle herd. In fact, Seidel1 stated: “ES and AI are among the most powerful and applicable technologies for genetic improvement of a beef herd.” However, the primary challenge to adopting these technologies has been the commitment of time and labor associated with their implementation ...