Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farm
IntroductionNorwegian Red has been shown to have high levels of estrus behavior under experimental conditions. However, the estrus behaviors of Norwegian Red cows have not been studied under commercial conditions.MethodsA herd of 89 Norwegian Red cows housed in free stalls on concrete, slatted floor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1219001/full |
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| author | Maien Munthe-Kaas Guro Sveberg Ingrid Hunter Holmøy Elisabeth Kommisrud Caroline Sorknes Haadem Adam Dunstan Martin |
| author_facet | Maien Munthe-Kaas Guro Sveberg Ingrid Hunter Holmøy Elisabeth Kommisrud Caroline Sorknes Haadem Adam Dunstan Martin |
| author_sort | Maien Munthe-Kaas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionNorwegian Red has been shown to have high levels of estrus behavior under experimental conditions. However, the estrus behaviors of Norwegian Red cows have not been studied under commercial conditions.MethodsA herd of 89 Norwegian Red cows housed in free stalls on concrete, slatted floors, were continuously video monitored for 21 days. Ovarian cyclicity was confirmed in a final study sample group (n = 18) using milk progesterone concentrations. All mounting and standing activities were recorded, and the duration of mount estrus, standing estrus and the differences between these; prestand and poststand, were determined. The cycle stages metestrus, diestrus and proestrus were estimated based on the starting time and ending time of mount estrus.ResultsAll cows in the final study sample group exhibited the primary estrus sign, ‘standing to be mounted’ during estrus. Two (11%), eleven (61%) and six (33%) cows exhibited the behavior ‘standing to be mounted’ during metestrus, diestrus and proestrus, respectively. The number of mounts initiated by individual cows was higher during mount and stand estrus than during the rest of the estrous cycle. This study reports a median duration of mount estrus and stand estrus of 21.0 h (interquartile range (IQR) 15.0 to 27.3) and 14.3 h (IQR 12.0 to 18.8), respectively. The median counts per hour of all mount behaviors were 8.6 (IQR 5.6 to 11.3), 1.51 (IQR 0.3 to 3.8) and 1.7 (IQR 0.8 to 6.0) for standing estrus, prestand and poststand, respectively.DiscussionThis study shows that under commercial conditions the Norwegian Red cow displays a high level of mount and stand activity associated with estrus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:26:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc467a6768bf433983847a19567433fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:26:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc467a6768bf433983847a19567433fe2023-09-12T17:28:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-09-011010.3389/fvets.2023.12190011219001Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farmMaien Munthe-Kaas0Guro Sveberg1Ingrid Hunter Holmøy2Elisabeth Kommisrud3Caroline Sorknes Haadem4Adam Dunstan Martin5Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayGENO Breeding and AI Association, Hamar, NorwayDepartment of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayDepartment of Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, NorwayDepartment of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayDepartment of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayIntroductionNorwegian Red has been shown to have high levels of estrus behavior under experimental conditions. However, the estrus behaviors of Norwegian Red cows have not been studied under commercial conditions.MethodsA herd of 89 Norwegian Red cows housed in free stalls on concrete, slatted floors, were continuously video monitored for 21 days. Ovarian cyclicity was confirmed in a final study sample group (n = 18) using milk progesterone concentrations. All mounting and standing activities were recorded, and the duration of mount estrus, standing estrus and the differences between these; prestand and poststand, were determined. The cycle stages metestrus, diestrus and proestrus were estimated based on the starting time and ending time of mount estrus.ResultsAll cows in the final study sample group exhibited the primary estrus sign, ‘standing to be mounted’ during estrus. Two (11%), eleven (61%) and six (33%) cows exhibited the behavior ‘standing to be mounted’ during metestrus, diestrus and proestrus, respectively. The number of mounts initiated by individual cows was higher during mount and stand estrus than during the rest of the estrous cycle. This study reports a median duration of mount estrus and stand estrus of 21.0 h (interquartile range (IQR) 15.0 to 27.3) and 14.3 h (IQR 12.0 to 18.8), respectively. The median counts per hour of all mount behaviors were 8.6 (IQR 5.6 to 11.3), 1.51 (IQR 0.3 to 3.8) and 1.7 (IQR 0.8 to 6.0) for standing estrus, prestand and poststand, respectively.DiscussionThis study shows that under commercial conditions the Norwegian Red cow displays a high level of mount and stand activity associated with estrus.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1219001/fullNorwegian Redestrus behaviorestrus durationestrus intensitydairy cow |
| spellingShingle | Maien Munthe-Kaas Guro Sveberg Ingrid Hunter Holmøy Elisabeth Kommisrud Caroline Sorknes Haadem Adam Dunstan Martin Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farm Frontiers in Veterinary Science Norwegian Red estrus behavior estrus duration estrus intensity dairy cow |
| title | Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farm |
| title_full | Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farm |
| title_fullStr | Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farm |
| title_short | Pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in Norwegian Red cattle on a commercial dairy farm |
| title_sort | pilot study investigating estrus length and estrus behavior in norwegian red cattle on a commercial dairy farm |
| topic | Norwegian Red estrus behavior estrus duration estrus intensity dairy cow |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1219001/full |
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