Abstract
The accuracy of the diagnosis of follicular cyst and ovarian quiescence by rectal palpation was estimated from the peripheral blood progesterone (P4) level at a first examination and a second examination 7-14 days later, in dairy cows and Black Japanese beef cattle. Twentyseven (69.2%) out of 39 cows diagnosed with follicular cyst and 24 (60.0%) out of 40 diagnosed with ovarian quiescence had low P4 (<1.0ng/ml) at both examinations. Four (10.3%) cows with follicular cyst and 8 (20.0%) with ovarian quiescence had low P4 at the first examination, but high P4 (>1.0ng/ml) at the second examination. The remaining 8 (20.5%) cases with follicular cyst and 8 (20.0%) with ovarian quiescence had high P4 at the first examination. The results suggest that, in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian diseases, the measurement of peripheral blood P4 could become a supplementary means of accurate diagnosis and treatment of these two diseases.
