Breathalyzer Detects Early Cow Pregnancy

2024 - Volume #48, Issue #3, Page #27

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An entrepreneur in Australia has taken NASA technology and transformed it into a pregnancy test for cows that works by detecting compounds in cow’s breath.
Bronwyn Darlington, a beef farmer from Carwoola Station, Australia, has a PhD in consumer psychology and behavioral economics. She founded Agscent to develop high-tech solutions for agricultural problems. Breathomics (breath diagnosis) is a growing medical field for human diagnostics. Agscent is now applying the same technology to livestock. It has adapted what the International Space Station originally developed to work as an “electric nose” in space for detecting dangerous air contaminants to detect pregnancy in cows.
The device, known as Agscent Breath, is placed over a cow’s nose while being held in a cattle chute. It immediately begins analyzing her breath using nano-sensors to detect the chemical differences between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. Specifically, it measures the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Under the right conditions, users can get a result in just 15 seconds.
The standard practice for detecting bovine pregnancy requires an animal handler to insert their hand into the animal and manually feel for a fetus. This is time-consuming and dangerous, as an unexpected kick can lead to shoulder injuries. A breath test promises improved efficiency, reliability, and safety. It also makes it easier for livestock owners to choose which (non-pregnant) cows to cull or plan out nutrient requirements for pregnant cows.
Today, Agscent Breath can detect pregnancy in a cow as early as 16 days post-insemination.
For now, the company estimates that each test would cost between $2.50 to $4.50, depending on the size of the herd. The goal is to make it part of the standard diagnostic tool kit of a livestock vet but also to simplify the technology to the point that anyone can take and interpret a reading.
Agscent Air is currently being tested on cattle operations throughout Australia. The device is scheduled to go to market by mid-2024.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Agscent, 1644 Platte Street, Suite 400, Denver, Colo. 80202 (www.agscent.com).

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Breathalyzer Detects Early Cow Pregnancy LIVESTOCK Dairy 17 An entrepreneur in Australia has taken NASA technology and transformed it into a pregnancy test for cows that works by detecting compounds in cow’s breath Bronwyn Darlington a beef farmer from Carwoola Station Australia has a PhD in consumer psychology and behavioral economics She founded Agscent to develop high-tech solutions for agricultural problems Breathomics breath diagnosis is a growing medical field for human diagnostics Agscent is now applying the same technology to livestock It has adapted what the International Space Station originally developed to work as an “electric nose” in space for detecting dangerous air contaminants to detect pregnancy in cows The device known as Agscent Breath is placed over a cow’s nose while being held in a cattle chute It immediately begins analyzing her breath using nano-sensors to detect the chemical differences between pregnant and non-pregnant animals Specifically it measures the presence of volatile organic compounds VOCs Under the right conditions users can get a result in just 15 seconds The standard practice for detecting bovine pregnancy requires an animal handler to insert their hand into the animal and manually feel for a fetus This is time-consuming and dangerous as an unexpected kick can lead to shoulder injuries A breath test promises improved efficiency reliability and safety It also makes it easier for livestock owners to choose which non-pregnant cows to cull or plan out nutrient requirements for pregnant cows Today Agscent Breath can detect pregnancy in a cow as early as 16 days post-insemination For now the company estimates that each test would cost between $2 50 to $4 50 depending on the size of the herd The goal is to make it part of the standard diagnostic tool kit of a livestock vet but also to simplify the technology to the point that anyone can take and interpret a reading Agscent Air is currently being tested on cattle operations throughout Australia The device is scheduled to go to market by mid-2024 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Agscent 1644 Platte Street Suite 400 Denver Colo 80202 www agscent com

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