02/23/07 Blood will tell II

Blood Will Tell II Yesterday, I told you about a new cattle pregnancy blood test. I'm Jeff Keane; today I'll tell you about using the procedure and what the future might hold. BioPRYN, a cattle pregnancy detection blood test developed by Dr. Garth Sasser, professor emeritus at the University of Idaho has some producers like Fred Slocum of Quitman, Arkansas sold on the advantages he sees over palpation. BioPRYN, marketed through BioTracking can be used early, only thirty days after breeding and 90 days after the birth of the cow's last calf. Slocum figures drawing blood is quicker than palpating and feels it is easier on the cow, the preg tester, and safer for the fetus. Producers use the test as a tool to manage open cows differently and plan for marketing options. The cost of the test is $2.25 per sample, which includes processing and notification by email or fax. Some affiliate labs have a courier service that is quicker and less expensive than mailing. The BioPRYN test can be used on other ruminant species including sheep, goats, deer, elk and buffalo. Collection procedures and costs are different for some of these species. Samples were tested for over 207,000 animals in 2006 from Canada, Europe and every state other than Rhode Island and Delaware. Dr. Sasser says lab work is presently developing an on-site test that will require no mailing and give immediate results. The work of Dr. Sasser and his development of BioPRYN is just another reason we can be proud of our Northwest livestock researchers. I'm Jeff Keane. Angus Journal, January 2006