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New dairy cow device
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[AUG.
4, 2003]
URBANA -- An intravaginal
device that should improve reproductive efficiency in dairy cows has
been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said a
University of Illinois scientist who conducted one of the pivotal
trials leading to the action.
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"This is extremely important news for
dairy producers," said Darrel Kesler, a professor of reproductive
physiology in the Department of Animal Sciences. "The pivotal tests,
which were conducted in Michigan, Florida, New York, California and
Illinois, demonstrate that the product is safe for both the cows and
consumers of milk products."
Marketed by Pfizer Animal Health, the
device known as the Eazi-Breed CIDR helps regulate estrus in
lactating dairy cows. This allows producers to make better-informed
breeding decisions, a major factor in dairy profitability.
"The device releases natural
progesterone that synchronizes estrus," explained Kesler. "The tests
demonstrate that the level of progesterone in the milk of cows with
the device is actually less than the level in pregnant dairy cows.
Humans have been drinking milk from pregnant dairy cows for
centuries."
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this article]
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The product has previously been
approved for use with beef cattle and dairy heifers. Kesler said,
however, that he believes the device will have its greatest economic
impact in dairy cows.
"Synchronizing estrus has been a big
problem in the dairy industry," he said. "Getting dairy cows
successfully re-bred while they are lactating has been very
difficult. Gaining FDA approval for this device will be an important
boost for producers in addressing the reproduction problem."
The trial that Kesler led involved a
large dairy operation in Peoria. Data from that trial and the others
created some 10,000 pages of information that was evaluated for a
year and a half by FDA scientists before approval was given in late
July.
"The trials
and the data showed the device is safe and effective," he said.
[University of Illinois news
release]
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