Lecture 2: Estrus Detection in Cattle
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Estrus, or standing heat, is the period when a female accepts mating, marked by the cow standing to be mounted, lasting typically 12-18 hours. Effective heat detection is crucial for fertility management, requiring trained staff and specific observation strategies, including recognizing various signs of heat and using detection aids. Various methods like marking crayons, pressure-sensitive pads, and chin-ball markers can assist in reliably identifying cows in estrus.
Lecture 2: Estrus Detection in Cattle
- 1. By Dr. Rabie Hassan Fayed Prof. of Animal & Poultry Management Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cairo University, Egypt
- 2. Estrus Estrus, or standing heat, is defined as a regularly occurring state of sexual receptivity during which the female will accept the male. This is indicated in cattle by the cow standing to be mounted by a bull or other cows. Standing heat typically lasts for about 12 -18 hours, but some cows may stand as short as four hours or as long as 24 hours. 2
- 3. The term “estrous cycle” refers to the whole sequence of hormonal and reproductive changes that take place from one heat period to the next. The length of the estrous cycle average is 21 days, but may vary among individuals, with 17 - 24 day cycle lengths being common. 3
- 4. Good heat detection is an essential part of good fertility. Poor heat detection leads to cows on heat being missed and cows being served when they are not on heat The only definitive sign of heat is a cow standing to be mounted when it is free to move Other signs, such as restless behaviour, a bulling string, and mounting other cows, suggest a cow is around oestrus but are not definitive 4
- 5. Having a well-planned heat detection strategy and well trained staff are crucial Even in the best herds, heat detection aids can improve detection Whatever system you use ensure that you record heats effectively, assess how effective your heat detection and use these records to constantly improve fertility 5
- 7. Ensure all cows are identifiable at a distance Check two hours after morning milking Check two hours after afternoon milking Add an early afternoon check to maximize the number of heats observed Always observe cows quietly Return cows to the milking herd as soon as possible after AI – these cows will act as detectors Ensure all staff record all observations using the same system Training of staff is critical 7
- 8. Restless behaviour Attempting to mount other cows Mounting head-to-head (rare but cows are usually in heat if they do this) Bellowing when isolated Small increase in body temperature Poor milk let-down Clear mucus discharge from the vulva. ‘bulling string’ (mucus discharge with blood suggests heat 48 hours ago) 8
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- 16. Turning the tail to one side. Abducted hind legs ruffled hair on the tail head scruff marks or dirt/mud half way up their back or down the sides from the mounting cow’s front hooves heat detector device rubbed Cows will stand to be mounted for 12-24 hours (less than this for heifers), and during this time they may be jumped 50-80 times by various other cows (often the ones who are about to stand later that day, or by a more dominant female). 16
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- 20. 1) An older steer / bullock that was castrated later in life will certainly show you who is cycling, in much the same was as a bull might. 2) A side-winder bull will do the same job (this is an entire bull that has had his sheath operated on by a vet to make it point out to the side so that he can never effectively serve a cow). 20
- 21. A-Chemical Communication (Olfaction & gustatory) B- Tactile communication C- Auditory communication 21
- 22. Through sniffing and licking to ◦ The female genital opening ◦ or urine ◦ or the bedding to detect chemical substance called Pheromones ● Response of the male ◦ Chin resting behaviour ◦ Flehmen phenomenon ●Response of female ◦ Standing behaviour 22
- 27. The male raise its head Extends the neck Curling upper lip( exposing of the teeth) Opening of the nostrils
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- 32. 32 (1) Marking crayons (e.g. Chalk) which are used on the rump of the cow and then smeared if the cow is ridden . (2) Pressure-sensitive pads which glue to the rump of the cow and (a) emit a red liquid when the pad is mounted or trigger a computer-linked response to indicate the cow has been ridden (Heat Watch) (3) Chin-ball markers
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- 34. One of the most effective ways of determining heat is to attach this halter device under the chin of a vasectomized bull. The marker consists of a paint reservoir with a steel ball valve, similar to a ballpoint pen. When bull rides another animal, the chin ball marker is activated, and paint marks are left on the in-heat animal’s back 34
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- 37. Many believe these to be the most reliable, especially on the long hair of Highlands. Take care with their placement as per the directions, and second Kamar can be placed over the top of ones that have gone off. They do not go fully off until the cow has been mounted 3-4 times. 37
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- 41. Also useful but may not stick as well to hairy animals. Also need to pay attention to application technique to be sure the glue gets sticky enough. Some will cut these in half & get two uses from a single patch, thus halving the cost. 41
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- 43. some have used this in Highlands and tail paint is generally useful but there are more potential for ‘false alarms’ with this method. Certainly the cheapest heat detection aid. 43
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- 50. a-dirty rump and flank b-ruffled hair on tail head and patches of hair are removed c-streaks of saliva on the back 50
- 51. drop in milk production clear, glistening mucous discharge from vagina redness and swelling of vulva 51
- 52. A characteristic of standing heat that is often mentioned refers to a somewhat reddened and swollen, loose vulva. Practical experience suggests that this may be very subject to interpretation and difficult to view, and is thus of limited value as a heat detection aid. a bloody discharge at the end of estrus usually indicates a missed heat; observe this animal for return to heat in 18–24 days 52
- 53. Pedometer for heat detection 53 This device is used along with a computer to determine how far an animal has walked. Animals in heat are usually restless and may walk long distances.