Pregnancy Testing By Will Winter, DVM

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In this episode, Will Winter, DVM shares practical and philosophical insights into the evolving world of pregnancy testing in livestock. From the tactile art of rectal palpation to modern ultrasound and blood tests, he breaks down the risks, benefits, and deeper implications of each method.

The episode explores both the technical and regenerative aspects of pregnancy testing, advocating for systems that prioritize herd health, reduce stress, and ultimately lead to more profitable and sustainable outcomes.

Dr. Winter encourages graziers to go beyond diagnostics and consider building a herd so fertile and healthy that pregnancy testing becomes unnecessary altogether.

🔑 Key Points Covered:

1. Rectal Palpation: Still the most common method—cheap and fast but not without stress, skill requirements, and risk to the fetus.

2. Ultrasound Technology: Offers enhanced accuracy and fetal age estimation, but demands greater expertise and costs more per test.

3. Blood Testing: A simple, minimally invasive method that’s low-cost and doesn’t require a chute—but with a slight tradeoff in turnaround time.

4. Holistic Reproduction Strategy: For elite herds with exceptional health and fertility, testing may become irrelevant.

5. Foundations of Herd Health: Nutrition, genetics, clean environments, and freedom from chemical inputs are key to a fertile, high-performing herd.

🌱 Actionable Insights:

1. Evaluate your current pregnancy testing methods for cost, stress on animals, and diagnostic reliability.

2. Begin building toward a no-test-needed herd by improving nutrition, genetics, and immunity.

3. Consider integrating blood testing into your operation if chute stress is a concern or labor is limited.

4. Don’t overlook rectal palpation’s diagnostic power for anatomical or fertility issues—even in “open” cows.

5. Start thinking about pregnancy testing not just as a tool—but as a reflection of your overall herd management success.

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