Comparison of oestrus detection methods in dairy cattle

Holman, A. N.; Thompson, Jeffrey P.; Routly, J.E.; Cameron, Jessie M.; Jones, David; Grove‐White, Dai; Smith, Robert F.; Dobson, H.

doi:10.1136/vr.d2344

Cited by 105 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Increased physical activity is a secondary sign of estrus in cattle, and pedometry systems that detect changes in the number of steps per unit time have been available for many years with some adoption by the dairy industry in the United States. A new generation of electronic systems that continuously monitor physical activity in cattle (Holman et al, 2011;Jónsson et al, 2011) have been developed, and there has been rapid adoption of this technology in the United States over the past several years. Many reviews have been published on systems used to detect estrus in cattle (Nebel et al, 2000;Firk et al, 2002;Rorie et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression and detection of estrus in dairy cows: the role of new technologies

Fricke

Carvalho

Giordano

et al. 2014

Animal

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Despite the widespread adoption of hormonal synchronization protocols that allow for timed artificial insemination (AI), detection of estrus plays an important role in the reproductive management program on most dairies in the United States. Increased physical activity is a secondary sign of estrus in dairy cattle, and a new generation of electronic systems that continuously monitor physical activity to predict timing of AI have been developed and marketed to the dairy industry. A variety of management and physiologic challenges inhibit detection of behavioral estrus on farms, but the prevalence of anouvular cows near the end of the voluntary waiting period is particularly problematic. Only 70% of lactating Holstein cows were detected in estrus when using an activity monitoring system, with the remaining 20% of cows classified as anovular and 10% ovulating without showing signs of activity. Mean time of AI in relation to ovulation based on the activity monitoring system was acceptable for most of the cows with increased activity, however, variability in the duration of estrus and timing of AI in relation to ovulation could result in poor pregnancy outcomes in some cows. Use of a Presynch-Ovsynch protocol for submission of cows for first AI has been widely adopted by dairies in the United States, and a combined approach in which AI based on activity is followed by submission of cows not detected with activity to timed AI after synchronization of ovulation may be an effective strategy for submission of cows to first AI. Based on a field trial on a large commercial dairy in the United States, the activity monitoring system detected 70% of cows with increased activity after the second PGF 2α injection of a Presynch-Ovsynch protocol, however, cows inseminated to increased activity had fewer pregnancies per AI (P/AI) compared with cows with increased activity after the second PGF 2α injection that received timed AI after completing the Presynch-Ovsynch protocol. Based on an economic model comparing reproductive management programs with varying levels of AI to estrus v. timed AI, the rate of estrus detection and the P/AI to inseminations based on AI to detected estrus v. timed AI affected the decision to inseminate based on activity v. timed AI. In conclusion, an activity monitoring system detected increased activity in about 70% of lactating Holstein cows on a large commercial dairy in the United States, however, synchronization of ovulation and timed AI was beneficial to inseminate cows not detected with increased activity by the activity monitoring system.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression and detection of estrus in dairy cows: the role of new technologies

Fricke

Carvalho

Giordano

et al. 2014

Animal

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“…Using cow information, reproductive dynamics and economics representative for the dairy situation in the Netherlands, Inchaisri et al (2010) predicted that an improvement in the oestrus detection rate from 0.30 to 0.50 and from 0.50 to 0.70 will reduce the net economic loss by €53.29 and €11.20 per cow per year, respectively. Various oestrus detection methods aimed at improving detection rate have been developed, evaluated and compared (Diskin and Sreenan, 2000;Firk et al, 2002;Roelofs et al, 2010;Holman et al, 2011). Despite this, modern dairy farming would substantially benefit from an improved oestrus detectability via an increased expression of oestrous behaviour in cows, that is, if cows would generally show the various signs of oestrus during a longer period of time and at a higher intensity and if more cows would show standing oestrus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Central genomic regulation of the expression of oestrous behaviour in dairy cows: a review

Woelders

Lende²,

Kommadath

et al. 2014

Animal

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The expression of oestrous behaviour in Holstein Friesian dairy cows has progressively decreased over the past 50 years. Reduced oestrus expression is one of the factors contributing to the current suboptimal reproductive efficiency in dairy farming. Variation between and within cows in the expression of oestrous behaviour is associated with variation in peripheral blood oestradiol concentrations during oestrus. In addition, there is evidence for a priming role of progesterone for the full display of oestrous behaviour. A higher rate of metabolic clearance of ovarian steroids could be one of the factors leading to lower peripheral blood concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone in high-producing dairy cows. Oestradiol acts on the brain by genomic, non-genomic and growth factor-dependent mechanisms. A firm base of understanding of the ovarian steroid-driven central genomic regulation of female sexual behaviour has been obtained from studies on rodents. These studies have resulted in the definition of five modules of oestradiol-activated genes in the brain, referred to as the GAPPS modules. In a recent series of studies, gene expression in the anterior pituitary and four brain areas (amygdala, hippocampus, dorsal hypothalamus and ventral hypothalamus) in oestrous and luteal phase cows, respectively, has been measured, and the relation with oestrous behaviour of these cows was analysed. These studies identified a number of genes of which the expression was associated with the intensity of oestrous behaviour. These genes could be grouped according to the GAPPS modules, suggesting close similarity of the regulation of oestrous behaviour in cows and female sexual behaviour in rodents. A better understanding of the central genomic regulation of the expression of oestrous behaviour in dairy cows may in due time contribute to improved (genomic) selection strategies for appropriate oestrus expression in high-producing dairy cows.Keywords: sexual behaviour, dairy cow, oestrus, gene expression, brain ImplicationsReduced oestrus expression is one of the factors contributing to the current suboptimal reproductive efficiency in dairy cows. A recent series of publications that correlated the level of oestrous behaviour expression to gene expression levels in the cow brain and anterior pituitary are reviewed here and their findings placed in perspective of what is known about sexual behaviour from studies on other species. The improved understanding of the central genomic regulation of oestrous behaviour expression may in due time contribute to improved (genomic) selection strategies for appropriate oestrus expression in high-producing dairy cows. IntroductionMaintaining good fertility and thereby optimum reproductive performance in dairy cows is of great economic importance for the dairy industry. Artificial insemination of cows is widely practiced in modern dairy farming. To ensure timely insemination and thereby maximize conception rates in the herd and profitability of the farm, it is important that the farmer does not m...

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“…Later studies have confirmed that the measurement of the increase in the number of steps is a useful tool for the detection of oestrus, especially if associated with a specific algorithm (Moore and Spahr 1991;Lehrer et al 1992;Liu and Spahr 1993;AtTaras and Spahr, 2001;de Mol et al, 2001;Firk et al, 2002;Roelofs et al 2005). Many oestrus detection systems are used in attempt to improve conception rates, ranging from the simple visual observation of the animals to more specific systems based on the measurement of the cows' activity through pedometers or collar activity meters (Holman et al, 2011). The effectiveness of pedometer-aided detection of oestrus, when compared with visual observation, is quite variable and ranges from 60 to 100%, depending on the study (Lehrer et al, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of a proactive herd management system in a dairy farm of northern italy: technical and economic results

Leonardi¹,

Marchesi²,

Tangorra³

et al. 2013

J Agricult Engineer

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Reproductive and economic data were recorded before and one year after the installation of Herd Navigator™ in a dairy farm with AMS (Automatic Milking System) located in a mountain area of Northern Italy. Number of days open reduced from 166 to 103 days, number of days between the first and second insemination decreased from 45 to 28 days, and days for identifying an abortion were 80 % less, from 31 to 6 days. The preliminary results highlight the usefulness of the proactive herd management system installed for the reproduction management. A basic economic model is proposed to evaluate the potential economic benefits coming from the introduction of this technology. The model considers the benefits deriving from the reduction of reproduction problems and, consequently, of days open. Considering the effects related to the above mentioned aspects in a case study involving 60 dairy cows, a return on investment over 5 years has been calculated.

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Comparison of oestrus detection methods in dairy cattle

Cited by 105 publications

References 23 publications

Expression and detection of estrus in dairy cows: the role of new technologies

Expression and detection of estrus in dairy cows: the role of new technologies

Central genomic regulation of the expression of oestrous behaviour in dairy cows: a review

Use of a proactive herd management system in a dairy farm of northern italy: technical and economic results

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