Enhancing early identification of high-fertile cattle females using infrared blood serum spectra and machine learning

Abstract Artificial insemination (AI) success in bovine reproduction is vital for the cattle industry’s economic sustainability and for advancing the understanding of reproductive physiology. Identify high-fertile animals’ fertility is a complex task due to multifactorial traits, including hormonal, age-related, and body condition factors. Early high-fertility identification is crucial for timely interventions and enhancing AI success. In this study, we present the potential use of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy on blood serum for early identification of high-fertile Nellore female cows for AI protocols. Blood serum FTIR spectra were obtained from Nellore female cows before AI. FTIR spectra underwent data analysis and the results demonstrated successful discrimination between animals that exhibit pregnant and non-pregnant diagnoses 30 days after AI. FTIR spectra revealed consistent vibrational modes, emphasizing Amide I and II bands. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively segregated groups based on molecular information. Linear SVM with C = 10 and 4 PCs achieved 100% accuracy in the group classification. This innovative approach using FTIR spectroscopy and ML algorithms offers a promising means of high-fertile cow identification, potentially improving AI outcomes in Nellore cattle. The study presents valuable insights into advancements in reproductive management practices for this economically significant breed.