BioPRYN® is a blood pregnancy test for ruminants, and has specific appeal for the commercial U.S. dairy and beef industries because it delivers fast, accurate, safe and economical pregnancy diagnostic results. The technology works on all ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats, bison, deer, elk and moose. A specific test using ELISA technology, which produces fast results and has been developed for use exclusively in cattle.

How does BioPRYN® detect pregnancies?

Heifers and cows can be tested at 28 days or later, after breeding. Embryo transfer cows should be tested no earlier than 32 days allowing 2 extra days for the embryo to implant. Lactating cows must also be 90 days after calving.
Lactating cows have residual PSPB from the previous pregnancy until 78 days after calving. To eliminate the risk of a false-positive result, breeders are cautioned to take the sample at 28 days or more after breeding, and 78 days or more after calving. Thus if a cow is bred at 60 days after calving, it is appropriate to take the 28 days post-breeding sample, which is 88 days after calving.
Animals that are detected open can then be immediately returned to aggressive breeding programs using other reproductive technologies.

BioPRYN® has been shown to have an overall accuracy rate of 97 percent. In fact, the test is 99 percent accurate in detecting open cows, with only 1 percent showing false-open (false-negative). Correct open detection is very important because giving prostaglandin to misdiagnosed pregnant cows will cause abortion.
The false-pregnant (false-positive) rate for the test is approximately 5 percent. In practice, high-producing dairy cows tend to show slightly higher false-positive rates of 7 to 8 percent, especially during periods of extremely hot weather. It is presumed that a portion of this variance is due to higher early embryonic death, and not to test inaccuracy.

The test itself costs $2.50 from Eagle Talon Enterprises, L.L.C., plus the cost of a sample tube and needle. Shipping expenses also must be added to ship the sample to the lab.

Producers incur approximately the same or less cost using BioPRYN®compared to rectal palpation by a veterinarian, and less cost than ultrasound. It is also considerably less expensive than currently available on-farm diagnostic methods.
BioPRYN® allows producers to diagnose pregnancy more rapidly after breeding than rectal palpation, with no risk of damaging the fetus. Cows diagnosed open can then be re-bred more quickly, resulting in tighter calving intervals, more calves born per year, and higher lifetime milk production (because cows achieve peak milk more often).
The test is more convenient to dairies and beef operations because on-farm personnel can draw and ship blood samples, rather than working around a veterinarian’s schedule. Eliminating rectal palpation also frees up the veterinarian to concentrate on management issues and recomendations with the farm staff.
No test is more accurate than BioPRYN®, and BioPRYN® is more accurate than palpating at an earlier time. Thus, fewer cows are called open by mistake and treated to initiate new reproductive cycles causing abortion. This can improve reproductive performance and amount to considerable savings.
In addition, efficiency and cost savings is gained by earlier re-establishing synchronization in cows correctly detected as open.

Results will be reported the next working day for samples arriving in the lab before noon. Results can be faxed or e-mailed back to the producer. Emailed results can be downloaded directly into most management software programs.

Farm personnel need to draw blood samples from the tail or jugular vein, which is an easy-to-learn procedure. Blood samples of at least 2 mL per animal should be collected in individual vacuum tubes and labeled with each animal’s identification number. It is important to draw samples using individual, disposable needles, to avoid cross-contamination between animals. Needles and tubes can be obtained from veterinarians or veterinarian supply companies, or from Eagle Talon. A red-topped 3, 5, 7, or 10 mL vacuum plastic or glass tube is the least expensive and works best.
Tubes containing blood samples should not be opened and should be packed in a well-padded box to avoid breakage. They do NOT need to be packaged in ice. Samples may stay in transit for several days (two-weeks or more) without compromising the results of the test. Fastest results, however, are achieved when samples are shipped via an overnight carrier.
Include in the box the manifest sheet that lists producer information, each tube with each cattle identifier, and payment. The form and shipping information can be downloaded at the web site: www.eagletalonent.com

Dr. R. Garth Sasser of BioTracking, LLC, developed the BioPRYN® test using technology licensed from the University of Idaho. BioTracking is the sole manufacturer and distributor of BioPRYN®. Garth Sasser also developed the licensed technology while a researcher and faculty member at the University of Idaho.

Producers should contact Eagle Talon Enterprises, L.L.C. We will be glad to provide information on supplies, tail bleeding information, collection and detailed shipping instructions and establish a system for returning results to the producer.

Thanks to the availability of efficient shipping methods, Eagle Talon Enterprises, L.L.C. can process samples from livestock producers and veterinarians throughout the United States as well as internationally.

To learn more about BioPRYN®, contact:
Eagle Talon Enterprises, L.L.C.
Tanya D. Madden
PO Box 924 Laramie, WY 82073
544 Dutton Creek Rd. Laramie, WY 82070
(307) 742-9072
www.eagletalonent.com