Phantom Cow Syndrome

Last year our practice conducted a large scale study looking at the incidence of phantom cows and the economics of treating them. A phantom cow is a cow which has had one insemination and does not return within 35 days post insemination but is found to be not pregnant by ultrasound scan. 

In our study 4200 non-returning cows from 14 farms were scanned. On average 10% of non returning cows were found to be not pregnant. (14% in previously CIDR treated cows and 8% in naturally cycling cows).

The risk of a high incidence of phantom cow syndrome increases with a herd history of large condition loss post-calving, metritis, high non-cycler rate, high blood NEFA levels post calving, low BCS at mating, metritis and BVD. In our study half the cows diagnosed as phantoms were treated with a CIDR and the other half were left. We wanted to see if early identification and treatment would lift the 9,10 and 13 week in-calf rate.

On average CIDR treated phantom cows had an increased 9 week in-calf rate of 20%, but the biggest response came from the treatment of phantom cows of BCS 4.0 or less. Treatment of these increased 9 week incalf rates from 25% to 60% in these thin cows (half the cows in the study were 4.0 or less). The economic return for intervention on one farm in the study (900 cows) was $21,000.

Last year our practice conducted a large scale study looking at the incidence of phantom cows and the economics of treating them.

A phantom cow is a cow which has had one insemination and does not return within 35 days post insemination but is found to be not pregnant by ultrasound scan.

In our study 4200 non-returning cows from 14 farms were scanned. On average 10% of non-returning cows were found to be not pregnant. (14% in previously CIDR treated cows and 8% in naturally cycling cows). The risk of a high incidence of phantom cow syndrome increases with a herd history of large condition loss post-calving, metritis, high non-cycler rate, high blood NEFA levels post calving, low BCS at mating, metritis and BVD.

In our study half the cows diagnosed as phantoms were treated with a CIDR and the other half were left. We wanted to see if early identification and treatment would lift the 9,10 and 13 week in-calf rate. On average CIDR treated phantom cows had an increased 9 week in-calf rate of  20%, but the biggest response came from the treatment of phantom cows of  BCS 4.0 or less. Treatment of these increased 9 week incalf rates from 25% to  60% in these thin cows (half the cows in the study were 4.0 or less). The economic return for intervention on one farm in the study (900 cows) was $21,000.