Human pregnancy tests used on goats?

CarolynRenee · #1 10/04/12, 04:34 PM

Ok, I've read and heard conflicting info. on the usage of human pregnancy tests on goats.

Does anyone have personal experience using or trying to use them on their goats?

Thanks!

Kits&Kids · #2 10/04/12, 04:44 PM

It has been asked on this forum a few times over the years. From what i remember the answer is no.

mekasmom · #3 10/04/12, 04:46 PM

I have never even considered using one, so I can't answer that. The easiest way to see if a goat is pregnant is just to watch to see if she comes into heat in three weeks again or not. They are fairly regular in the fall until they are settled. Of course the meat breeds can come into season all year long, but dairy breeds you just watch in the fall on until they settle.
And that is a free way to diagnose a pregnancy too.

Backfourty,MI. · #4 10/04/12, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekasmom

I have never even considered using one, so I can't answer that. The easiest way to see if a goat is pregnant is just to watch to see if she comes into heat in three weeks again or not. They are fairly regular in the fall until they are settled. Of course the meat breeds can come into season all year long, but dairy breeds you just watch in the fall on until they settle.
And that is a free way to diagnose a pregnancy too.

Nigerians are considered year around breeders & I believe some nubians can be year around as well. Not sure with other dairy breeds but I think most are seasonal breeders.

mekasmom · #5 10/04/12, 06:40 PM

Dairy breeds are seasonal breeders.

Alice In TX/MO · #6 10/04/12, 07:52 PM

It's not the same hormone in goats that the human pregnancy test checks for. Don't waste your money.

Minelson · #7 10/04/12, 08:03 PM

I have been on this forum a few years and this question always comes up and the answer is no. Won't work. It would be cool if it did though!

**gone-a-milkin** · #8 10/04/12, 08:05 PM

Big pharma could make some money if they came up with pee stick preg tests for livestock.
I have always wondered why they haven't done that yet.

CaliannG · #9 10/04/12, 08:25 PM

I saw a "First Signal" pregnancy test display at the Walmart checkout line...forget what I was there for. At any rate, they were $0.88 each, so I threw two into my basket. Since I will be pulling blood and getting pregnancy checks done anyway, once I get the results from those (In 31 days, but who is counting?), if one or both of them come back with a positive, I'll run out and put pee-sticks underneath of them that came back positive, and a doe I know *can't* be pregnant, and see if I get matching results.

I've always known that they are supposed to test for different hormones, but i always wanted to experiment with it and see for myself, anyway. $1.76 isn't much to satisfy my curiosity.

Only 29 days until I can pull blood, and 31 days until I get a result back...but who is counting?

Alice In TX/MO · #10 10/04/12, 08:38 PM

Biotracking IS working on the technology to have pee sticks for goats.

CJBegins · #11 10/04/12, 08:51 PM

Pregnancy test sure have gotten cheaper since I had kids. Wow $0.88.

Carla

Cygnet · #12 10/04/12, 08:56 PM

FWIW, my Nigerians have been *strongly* seasonal breeders -- to the point where I've had all my does kid within a few days when the buck was running with them all summer and fall. Your mileage may vary; it's probably a genetics thing.

I can generally just look at a goat and tell if she's pregnant. The vulva looks different -- hard to describe, but there's a real difference.

I'm picturing me running around after a goat trying to get it to pee on a stick ... LOL. Or even just trying to catch urine in a ladle or something. I can only imagine the look the goat would give me. And the neighbors.

JBarGFarmKeeper · #13 10/04/12, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJBegins

Pregnancy test sure have gotten cheaper since I had kids. Wow $0.88.

Carla

I used a "cheap" preg test once. Never started took another test, still negative, never started, bought a more expensive test, positive. He's going to be 11. I guess some folks might say the moral of the story might be...stick with the cheap test!

Sorry, this is bad. I'm cracking myself up...it's been a HARD week....

Ford Zoo · #14 10/05/12, 08:14 AM

Apparently a Canadian company is marketing a urine pregnancy test for goats now. I did see some info a few weeks ago on another site where a breeder here is working with that company to become a distributer in the states. It sounded like they may be cheaper than Bio tracking.

Couldn't find that post, but found my note on it. It's a snap test you can do at home for cattle and goats and works with urine, blood, and milk. I'll have to keep my eye out for more info.

Alice In TX/MO · #15 10/05/12, 08:17 AM

BET LABS Goats - Urine Concentration of Total Estrogens Information Page

You have to collect urine and mail it in. Still trying to find the price on their website. Back in a minute.

OMG! $22 per sample. (I had to call to find out. No wonder they don't post the cost on the website.)

Ford Zoo · #16 10/05/12, 08:31 AM

I'll have to keep my eyes open for postings from that breeder down in Arkansas. If I remember correctly, I think each test itself would be less than $5, but she wasn't sure what the import fees or start up costs were going to run.

CarolynRenee · #17 10/05/12, 09:17 AM

Alice, WOW, that's pricey! biotracking is only like $7.50. Thanks for checking.

Ford Zoo, I think something like that would be much sought after in the goat world, hope they start it!

LoneStrChic23 · #18 10/05/12, 10:53 AM

Nope, human pregancy test won't work. I tried it 2 years ago on a doe who was definately bred (she kidded 5 weeks later).

Cheapest generic pregnancy test I've seen here is about $5. Brand name ranges from $7-$16 if you go fancy with the digital windows & such...

Biotracking cost $6.50 per sample, and I'm already sending in CAE test anyway.

Ford Zoo · #19 10/05/12, 11:37 AM

Here's a link to the Canadian company: TwilCanada BOVIPREG

$50 for 10 tests, plus $20 S&H, makes for $7.00 per test, no drawing blood, no paying extra for shipping to BioTracking, No waiting for results.

I haven't read all the particulars, but will definately taking a closer look at this!!

mary,tx · #20 10/05/12, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekasmom

Dairy breeds are seasonal breeders.

My Nubians cycle all year. I know for a fact they do because I have gotten kids from them every season of the year.

First kids I ever had on our place were born the first weekend of November.

It may or may not have something, though, to do with living in the South, since I have a Colorado friend who raises Nubians, and who happens to also be a vet, who was VERY surprised mine cycle all year.