Scanning for Success: Producers Build Reproductive Management Skills

The ‘Cattle Reproductive Health Workshop’ was held at Hillside Station late May. Nineteen participants representing seven pastoral leases drove some major miles to come together from across the vast Gascoyne and Pilbara regions!

The one and half day workshop was designed to build producer knowledge and confidence in reproductive management, pregnancy testing and reproductive decision making within northern pastoral systems. The workshop combined classroom presentations with practical demonstrations and hands on learning opportunities in the cattle yards.

It was delivered by Gascoyne Pilbara Rangelands Initiative (GPRI) in collaboration with Dr Kelsey Pool (University of WA and DPIRD) and Dr Milly Watts (Bovitech Veterinary Services)

Workshop covered:

• Introduction to reproductive management and pregnancy testing

• Understanding reproductive performance and fertility drivers

• Environmental influences on reproduction and heat stress

• Ultrasound fundamentals and image interpretation

• Pregnancy testing methods and applications

• Foetal ageing and reproductive record keeping

• Body condition scoring and reproductive performance

• Data collection to support management decisions

A key practical component of the workshop was the opportunity for participants to connect ultrasound images with real reproductive anatomy.

Participants were able to examine, dissect and scan reproductive tracts outside the animal, providing a unique opportunity to better understand reproductive anatomy and how structures appear on an ultrasound screen. This significantly improved participant understanding prior to undertaking live animal assessments.

The workshop then transitioned into practical yard sessions where Dr Milly Watts worked directly with participants on both manual palpation and ultrasound pregnancy testing techniques. Participants were able to compare what could be identified through each method, gain confidence interpreting ultrasound images and improve their understanding of pregnancy diagnosis, foetal ageing and reproductive assessment.

Participants Key Learnings

• Pregnancy testing and foetal ageing techniques

• Interpreting ultrasound images

• Reproductive anatomy and physiology

• The relationship between nutrition, body condition and fertility

• How reproductive information can support business decision making

• The importance of monitoring breeder performance over time

• Opportunities to use reproductive data to improve herd productivity

‘Seeing reproductive structures outside the cow, followed by observing and participating in live scanning activities, was one of the most valuable aspects of the workshop” all participants said.