Can Hematocrit Levels at Estrus in Dairy Cows and Sheep Be an Indicator for Pregnancy Success?

Abstract

Despite the major reproductive advances in the livestock industry, prenatal embryonic loss is still one of the major issues that causes substantial economic loss. While there are many tests available to determine pregnancy soon after maternal recognition of pregnancy, most of the prenatal losses are undetectable because it occurs before then. Based on previous research we hypothesized that increased plasma volume around the time of estrus will increase the survivability of the embryo at early stages of gestation. However, our findings indicate that hematocrit levels are not a consistent measurement in determining successful pregnancies.