Evaluation of Accuracy of measuring concentration of estradiol 17β and progesterone of milk in pregnancy and estrus detection of Saanen goats

Early pregnancy detection is a strategic way to reduce farm costs. Nutritional and health costs resulting from the maintenance of non-pregnant animals will not be imposed on the farmer, by timely detection of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of early detection of estrus and pregnancy in Sannan goats by measuring of estradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations in milk. In this experiment, 22 Sannan goats with 2-3 years old, with an average calving of 1.75 and an average weight of 47.5 ± 3.45Kg were selected and kept under equal conditions. First, estrus was synchronized in goats with vaginal sponge and PMSG and prostaglandin hormones (sponge for 12 days and injection of hormones on the final day). Milk samples were taken on days 0 and 1 of the estrous cycle (for estradiol test and estrus diagnosis) and on days 19, 21, 23 and 25 after mating (for progesterone measurement and pregnancy diagnosis). The average concentration of estradiol in milk was 15.01 pg/ml on day 0 and 2.76 pg/ml on day 1 of estrus. Based on sources, animals whose milk progesterone was more than 7.5 ng/ml were assumed to be pregnant, which was evaluated 50 days later by ultrasonography. Results show that Milk progesterone can be a way to diagnose goat pregnancy from the 19th day after mating with 86% accuracy. In summary, measuring milk estradiol and progesterone can be a way to timely estrus detection and to early diagnosis of pregnancy.