Relationship between progesterone concentrations in milk and blood and time of ovulation in dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to investigate whether monitoring progesterone concentrations in milk and blood plasma can be used to predict time of ovulation in dairy cattle. Whole milk was sampled twice daily and blood samples were collected once a day before the morning milking. Ovulation was assessed by trans-rectal ultrasonography at 4 h intervals beginning from the end of estrus. For a parameter to be useful as predictor for time of ovulation, it should be precise (i.e. variation between animals should not exceed 12 h). In milk, progesterone concentration droppe