Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2018, 66(2), 619-625 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun201866020619

Several Methods of Estrus Detection in Cattle Dams: A Review

Mária Mičiaková1, Peter Strapák2, Iveta Szencziová3, Eva Strapáková4, Ondrej Hanušovský5
1 Department of Environmentalism and Zoology, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic
2 Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic
3 Pigagro s.r.o., Ipeľský Sokolec 360, 935 75 Ipeľský Sokolec, Slovak Republic
4 Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding Biology, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic
5 Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic

The oestrus is defined as a complex of physiological signs and changes of behavior occurring immediately before the ovulation. It is the period of sexual receptivity of the cow and this period characterized by, typical cow behaviour which is standing when mounted by a bull or companion cow. Cow indicates this willingness by a slight arching of the back and immobility when approached. The bovine estrus cycle averages 20 days in heifers and 21 days in cows, but the fluctuations in the cycle length is laying between 18 and 25 days. As a result of this progress often only 50 % of the estrus cycles are recognized, and it is extremely hard to find all cows on heat. We state a few methods for estrus detection such as visual observation, locomotion activity and rumination time measurement and other.

Keywords: cows, detection, insemination time, methods, observation, oestrus, problems
Grants and funding:

The article was supported by the project VEGA [1/0724/16].

Published: May 2, 2018  Show citation

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Mičiaková, M., Strapák, P., Szencziová, I., Strapáková, E., & Hanušovský, O. (2018). Several Methods of Estrus Detection in Cattle Dams: A Review. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 66(2), 619-625. doi: 10.11118/actaun201866020619
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