By Jamie Martin
Maintaining a productive dairy herd depends heavily on reproductive efficiency. Dairy cows must be bred and become pregnant on schedule to support continuous milk production and farm profitability. For many producers, however, accurately determining pregnancy status can involve considerable time, labor, and expense.
Researchers at Cornell University, led by the laboratory of Dr. David Erickson, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and working through the Cornell Agricultural Systems Testbed and Demonstration Site (CAST), are developing an innovative technology called the ReproPhone.
The project combines expertise from Cornell's Agricultural Systems Testbed and Demonstration Site (CAST) and engineering researchers working on practical agricultural technologies. The goal is to provide dairy farmers with a simple and affordable tool that delivers rapid reproductive information.
The ReproPhone uses a compact computer unit, and a test cassette containing a lateral-flow strip. Farmers apply a small blood sample to the strip, and the system analyzes specific biological markers linked to reproduction.
The first version of the technology focuses on detecting Pregnancy Specific Protein B (PSPB), a well-established indicator of pregnancy in cattle. Rather than relying on visual interpretation, the device measures fluorescence levels and digitally determines whether the cow is pregnant.
This automated approach reduces subjectivity and increases consistency. Farmers can receive reliable results without needing specialized imaging equipment or laboratory analysis.
“Dairy cattle reproductive efficiency is critical to ensure consistent milk production and maximize farm profitability,” said Thea Nikolaou, PhD’28 Biomedical Engineering, a member of the lab of David Erickson, professor of mechanical engineering. “This means farmers need to carefully manage the pregnancy status of their cattle.”
Researchers are also advancing a multiplex version of the system capable of measuring both PSPB and progesterone. Progesterone is an important reproductive hormone that provides information about ovarian function.
Combining these two markers gives herd managers a more complete picture of a cow's reproductive status. If pregnancy is not detected, ovarian information can guide future breeding and management decisions.
The ReproPhone is also designed to improve data management. Future versions may connect animal identification systems, sample tracking, testing records, and herd management software into a single digital workflow. This could improve efficiency while reducing the risk of recordkeeping errors.
Industry collaboration plays an important role in the project. Researchers are working with BioTRACKING LLC, a company that has experienced pregnancy marker detection and antibody technology. The partnership supports the development of a practical solution that can eventually be adopted by commercial dairy farms.
“Instead of a human having to decide if the test shows one line or two in the test strip, as in an over-the-counter COVID test, the ReproPhone measures florescence to decide if PSPB is present and at what level. If it is above a certain level, then the cow is pregnant,” explained Julio Giordano, professor of dairy cattle biology and reproduction, and director of CAST. “There’s no human subjectivity involved. A farmer could do this test on farm, on their own, without expensive equipment.”
Upcoming testing at Cornell’s Dairy Research and Education Center will provide valuable information about the device’s performance under commercial farm conditions. Researchers will evaluate ease of use, workflow integration, and overall effectiveness.
The ReproPhone represents a broader trend toward precision livestock management. Modern dairy farms increasingly use digital technologies to improve decision-making, productivity, and animal care. Portable diagnostic tools are becoming an important part of this transformation.
By helping producers quickly identify pregnancy status and reproductive readiness, the ReproPhone has the potential to improve breeding programs, reduce delays in reproduction, and support stronger herd performance.
As development continues, the technology could become a valuable resource for dairy producers looking for efficient, data-driven tools that simplify reproductive management while supporting consistent milk production and long-term farm success.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vwalakte
Categories: National