Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows
Full signalling of oestrous behaviour is vital for proper timing of AI and good reproductive performance, currently jeopardized by shorter observations of oestrus behaviour. Alternative indicators including progesterone (P4) recordings on-farm are tested. Oestrous intensity of 37 heifers (H) and 30...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Medicine International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/540830 |
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| author | Emanuel Garcia Jan Hultgren Pontus Fällman Johanna Geust Bo Algers George Stilwell Stefan Gunnarsson Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez |
| author_facet | Emanuel Garcia Jan Hultgren Pontus Fällman Johanna Geust Bo Algers George Stilwell Stefan Gunnarsson Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez |
| author_sort | Emanuel Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Full signalling of oestrous behaviour is vital for proper timing of AI and good reproductive performance, currently jeopardized by shorter observations of oestrus behaviour. Alternative indicators including progesterone (P4) recordings on-farm are tested. Oestrous intensity of 37 heifers (H) and 30 1st-parity dairy cows (C1) either Swedish Red (32) or Swedish Holstein (35) with high genetic potential for milk production, was studied in relation to AI. P4-levels in blood or milk were monitored on-farm at 0, 7, and 20 d post-AI with a portable ELISA reader (eProCheck800). Avoidance distance and body condition were scored at day 7, and pregnancy diagnosed by P4 (day 20) and trans-rectal palpation (day 50). More heifers (46%) than C1-cows (10%) showed standing oestrus (strongest intensity, P<0.05), leading to higher pregnancy rate at d50 (72% versus 37% for C1, P<0.01) and calving rate (H: 64%, C1: 33%, P<0.05). Avoidance distances were short (<1 m), reflecting good human-animal interaction. Visually-recorded standing oestrus yielded 4.8 fold higher odds of pregnancy, respectively 4.6-fold higher odds of calving. On-farm P4-recordings had complementary value yet less accuracy. Intensity of oestrus signalling relates to animal well-being, reflected in pregnancy-to-term being a good indicator for optimal welfare in high-producing dairy cattle. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6f04fe7f6aa4966b59492572e1ed374 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2042-0048 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Medicine International |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6f04fe7f6aa4966b59492572e1ed3742025-02-03T05:51:04ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine International2042-00482011-01-01201110.4061/2011/540830540830Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy CowsEmanuel Garcia0Jan Hultgren1Pontus Fällman2Johanna Geust3Bo Algers4George Stilwell5Stefan Gunnarsson6Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez7Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23 Skara, SwedenDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23 Skara, SwedenDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23 Skara, SwedenNötcenter Viken, Vikens Egendom, 521 91 Falköping, SwedenDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23 Skara, SwedenCentro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23 Skara, SwedenDepartment of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23 Skara, SwedenFull signalling of oestrous behaviour is vital for proper timing of AI and good reproductive performance, currently jeopardized by shorter observations of oestrus behaviour. Alternative indicators including progesterone (P4) recordings on-farm are tested. Oestrous intensity of 37 heifers (H) and 30 1st-parity dairy cows (C1) either Swedish Red (32) or Swedish Holstein (35) with high genetic potential for milk production, was studied in relation to AI. P4-levels in blood or milk were monitored on-farm at 0, 7, and 20 d post-AI with a portable ELISA reader (eProCheck800). Avoidance distance and body condition were scored at day 7, and pregnancy diagnosed by P4 (day 20) and trans-rectal palpation (day 50). More heifers (46%) than C1-cows (10%) showed standing oestrus (strongest intensity, P<0.05), leading to higher pregnancy rate at d50 (72% versus 37% for C1, P<0.01) and calving rate (H: 64%, C1: 33%, P<0.05). Avoidance distances were short (<1 m), reflecting good human-animal interaction. Visually-recorded standing oestrus yielded 4.8 fold higher odds of pregnancy, respectively 4.6-fold higher odds of calving. On-farm P4-recordings had complementary value yet less accuracy. Intensity of oestrus signalling relates to animal well-being, reflected in pregnancy-to-term being a good indicator for optimal welfare in high-producing dairy cattle.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/540830 |
| spellingShingle | Emanuel Garcia Jan Hultgren Pontus Fällman Johanna Geust Bo Algers George Stilwell Stefan Gunnarsson Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows Veterinary Medicine International |
| title | Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows |
| title_full | Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows |
| title_fullStr | Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows |
| title_short | Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows |
| title_sort | intensity of oestrus signalling is the most relevant indicator for animal well being in high producing dairy cows |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/540830 |
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