Book a milk pregnancy test
Contact the Animal Health team
Get non-invasive, convenient pregnancy testing.
Or call 0800 436 362 once you have a herd testing date.
Milk pregnancy testing is a convenient, non-invasive method for pregnancy diagnosis using your herd test samples.
How milk pregnancy testing works
We use milk samples from a routine herd test to detect pregnancy-associated proteins called glycoproteins. These proteins are produced by the placenta and can be detected 28 days after conception.
Two options available
- Whole herd — includes all cows at the herd test
- Partial herd — test a selected group of cows. A fee of $49.95 + GST applies for partial herds.
Key Information
- The milk pregnancy test does not age pregnancies.
- After calving it takes up to 60 days for pregnancy associated glycoproteins to be un-detected.
- Majority of herds will have <5% of cows in the recheck category; however up to 10% rechecks could be expected. We recommend re-checks are completed via scanning with a vet or other provider.
- LIC’s milk pregnancy test has been validated against veterinary pregnancy diagnosis and monitored since its commercial launch in 2011
- Glycoprotein levels will vary from animal to animal.
Results
You’ll get the results by email approximately 5-7 working days from receipt of the herd test lab strip. Results are automatically updated to MINDA.
There are three possible results:
- Pregnant.
- No pregnancy detected.
- Re-check — when we can’t confirm whether a cow is pregnant or not.
We recommend re-checks are completed via scanning with a vet or other provider.
How accurate is the milk pregnancy test?
- A “Pregnant” result has a 99% accuracy.
- False positives may occur if a cow has recently aborted, as pregnancy protein levels take at least two weeks to drop following a slip.
- A “No pregnancy detected” result has a 95% accuracy.
- False negatives may occur where a cow is less than 28 days pregnant or where the cow has failed to produce enough glycoproteins for the test to detect.
When to test
Book a milk pregnancy test at least 28 days after your herd’s final mating. You must tell us your final mating date (including natural mating bulls) when you book the test.
Milk pregnancy testing prices
Milk Pregnancy Testing
|
Test |
Sample type |
Result turnaround time |
Price* excl GST |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Test Milk pregnancy testing (All animals included at herd test. |
Sample type Herd test sample |
Result turnaround time 5-7 working days from receipt into the animal health lab |
Price* excl GST $4.10 |
* Per sample, plus the cost of herd testing.
An administration fee of $49.95 (GST excl.) applies for partial herd pregnancy testing.
All prices exclude GST.
Book a milk pregnancy test
Contact the Animal Health team
Get non-invasive, convenient pregnancy testing.
Or call 0800 436 362 once you have a herd testing date.
