Catagra Group trainer Colin Hammond, second from right, with (from left) Mt Crompton Station graziers Julie, Rodney, Owen and Scott Angus.

Bovine ultrasound a tool for accurate pregnancy testing

More producers are incorporating ultrasound on their properties to manage pregnancy checking.

Mt Crompton Station is one of those, and undertook bovine ultrasound training.

Landholders like the convenience of determining ‘pregnant or not pregnant’ independently, while working with a highly-skilled practitioner to determine ‘why, not pregnant’ or for further examination and more sophisticated diagnosis as necessary.

The LDC project recognises the potential water quality outcomes from early pregnancy diagnosis are huge, if landholders actively respond to the information in a timely way.

Being able to pregnancy test cows sooner, and with more accuracy, allows landholders to sell off unproductive females closer to the flush of the season.

Removal of unproductive females reduces overall stocking rates and therefore keeps more ground cover present later in the dry season benefiting the landscape and the remainder of the herd.

Julie Angus said a New Incentives grant allowed them to purchase a ReproScan package, including training.

She said the ReproScan had already exceeded their expectations for the equipment in their breeding operation.

“Colin’s hands-on training is second to none, and straight out of the box, we found it very easy to use,” Julie said.

She and husband Rodney thought the ReproScan was quicker, more accurate and far less invasive than traditional pregnancy testing methods and therefore was a much more comfortable option for bovines and humans.

“We feel ReproScan is an effective decision-making tool that will allow us to make better informed decisions about individual animal placement and overall herd management,” Julie said.

“Removing  unproductive females closer to the flush of the season will keep more ground cover later in the dry season benefiting the landscape and our herd.

“A very big thank you to Adrienne [Hall] and LDC for giving us an opportunity to embrace this awesome piece of technology.”

Baby television. Watching the monitor while a scan is in progress.

Mt Crompton is one of two properties in the BBB successful in securing a LDC Exploring New Incentives grant to help purchase a bovine ultrasound pregnancy scanner.  

Trainer Colin Hammond, from Catagra Group – ReproScan suppliers, travelled to Mt Crompton last week to deliver training.

Mr Hammond has been involved with bovine pregnancy detection since 1984, and with ReproScan since 2012.

The grants are aimed at encouraging landholders with innovative ideas they would like to trial to tackle property issues such as animal health and welfare, and herd productivity.

Exploring New Incentives looks at ways to address barriers, financial and other, to the adoption of improved grazing land management practices and landscape remediation approaches in the BBB catchment.

This activity area has enabled nine properties to initiate their first on ground project with the LDC project. 

Grants have been approved to support:

• pregnancy scanning;
• water telemetry;
• weed wiper for Giant rat’s tail control;
• grazing land management and Giant rat’s tail control;
• spray mister for lantana control;
• weed wiper for Giant rat’s tail control;
• fire management plan; and
• landscape rehydration, biodiversity and drones.

Colin said the Angus family quickly mastered the Repro-Scan which has provided them a fast, accurate and easy method of pregnancy testing. 

“The Repro-Scan unit allows empty non-productive cows to be identified much earlier than with traditional manual palpation,” he said.

“This gives them the ability to preg test cows paddock by paddock quickly and efficiently with cows spending minimal time in the yards. “

He said selling empty cows earlier would improve cash flow, provide savings on lick costs and allow much better utilisation of feed for productive breeders.

Visiting Urannah Station grazier Jarad Elrott (back) listens to presenter Colin Hammond (right) with the Angus family (from left), Scott, Julie, Rod and Owen.