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A quantitative Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) Kit (Ovucheck Plasma/Serum Progesterone EIA Kit, Cambridge Life Science LTD., U. K.) for bovine progesterone (P) was applied to detect estrus in ewes. Serum P concentrations were measured during the estrus cycle of nine ewes. Dilution-assay and recovery test of serum P were conducted. Measurement of P concentrations of standard and ewe's serum samples showed parallelism, and nearly 100% of a known quantity were gained in recovery test. Intra-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were from 4.7 to 16.4%, and interassay CVs were from 4.4 to 20.3%. Estrus was confirmed with mounting behavior by a ram. P concentrations in 92% of serum samples from ewes in estrus were less than 1ng/ml, while the concentrations in 88% of samples from ewes in non-estrus were more than 1 ng/ml. In conclusion, this EIA kit was practical for measurement of P concentrations in ewe's serum and useful for diagnosis of estrus in ewes.

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