How to Tell if a Beef Cow Is in Hea
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Estrus Detection In Cattle
09 May 2010
Rut in cattle is unremarkably referred to as heat. It occurs every 18 to 24 days in sexually mature, open (nonpregnant) female person cattle when they are receptive to mounting action by bulls or other cows or heifers, according to Dr. Jane A. Parish, Associate Extension/ Enquiry Professor, Brute and Dairy Sciences; Dr. Jamie E. Larson, Assistant Professor, Brute and Dairy Sciences; and Dr. Rhonda C. Vann, Acquaintance Research Professor, Brownish Loam Branch Experiment Station.
Oestrus detection is critical to heat synchronization and breeding programs, particularly artificial insemination and embryo transfer programs. Effective estrus detection is often the almost limiting factor in an artificial insemination programme. Heat detection can also be used to monitor onset of puberty in heifers, regularity of estrous cycles in breeding age females, and breeding effectiveness of natural service sires via returns to heat in the cow herd.
Heat detection efficiency (rate) is the pct of eligible cows seen or detected in estrus. Eligible cows are cows eligible for insemination. Heifers have reached puberty if they accept resumed normal estrus role (cycling) after calving (typically forty days or more postcalving), are free of reproductive disorders or reproductive tract infections, and are open. A oestrus detection rate of eighty to 85 per cent should be attainable.
Oestrus Signs and Detection Methods
Several methods of heat detection can be implemented. Some involve using heat detection aids. Several dissimilar methods can be combined to better rut detection rates and accuracy. These include visual observation, heat mount detectors, tailhead markers (paint, chalk, crayon, paste), chin-ball markers, detector animals, and electronic heat detection devices.
Visual Observation
Visual observation is a unremarkably used method of heat detection. Information technology involves a trained observer's recognizing and recording signs of estrus. Observable signs of heat include mounting or attempting to mountain other cattle, standing to be mounted by other cattle, smelling other females, trailing other females, bellowing, depressed appetite, nervous and excitable behavior, mud on hindquarters and sides of cattle, roughed upward tail hair, vulva swelling and reddening, articulate vaginal mucous belch, and mucous smeared on rump.
The surest sign of oestrus is when a cow or heifer allows other cattle to mountain her while she remains continuing. This is chosen continuing oestrus. Cattle may exist willing to mount others but may not stand up to be mounted when outside of standing estrus. This normally indicates she is either coming into or going out of standing heat.
This method requires ascertainment of cattle at to the lowest degree twice daily, typically early in the morning and late in the evening for best results. More than frequent observation of cattle for oestrus improves detection accuracy and increases the likelihood of recognizing the optimal fourth dimension for breeding cattle, peculiarly in cattle in which rut is less intense or shorter in duration. Nearly twenty pct more cattle will exist observed in estrus when checked 4 times per day versus checking twice daily. Check cattle as often as practical. Space rut detection observation times evenly over 24 hours. Each observation period must be sufficiently long, unremarkably at to the lowest degree 30 minutes, to be effective.
Standing heat tin occur any fourth dimension in a 24-60 minutes period. Even so, the virtually likely fourth dimension for a cow or heifer to evidence heat signs is at night. The season of the year can influence this, with more than cows showing estrus at night in hot weather and more than showing rut during the day in common cold conditions. Housing conditions tin can as well have an effect on the distribution of oestrus during a 24- hr period. Hot weather, high production, crowded conditions, and high stress environments may reduce mounting activity.
| Timeline for Heat Signs in Cattle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| . | Coming into Oestrus | Standing Heat | Going out of Heat |
| . | (viii hours) | (18 hours) | (14+ hours) |
| Heat Signs |
|
|
|
Observers must distinguish among cattle coming into heat, in continuing heat, and going out of heat. Females that are in standing rut, were in standing estrus yesterday, or will be in standing heat tomorrow are the almost likely herd mates to mount other cows or heifers in heat. Notice cows away from the feed bunk so feeding beliefs does not interfere with heat detection. Cattle need nonslip ground and ample room to interact freely. Clay footing increases mounting and continuing activity more concrete footing.
Heat Detection Aids
Oestrus detection aids are available. They should be used to supplement but non replace visual observation. These include tail pigment, Kamar® Heatmount® Detectors, Estrotect™ Heat Detectors, Bovine Buoy®, tail head markers, chin-ball markers, and the HeatWatch® II System, an electronic detection system that records mounting beliefs. Rut detection aids differ in their application method, detection method, cost per brute, and detection accuracy.
| When Cows Testify Heat | |
|---|---|
| Time | Cows showing estrus signs, per cent |
| half dozen am to noon | 22 per cent |
| noon to 6 pm | x per cent |
| half dozen pm to midnight | 25 per cent |
| midnight to 6 am | 43 per cent |
Detector (teaser) animals can also assistance in heat detection. Teaser animals include several types of gomer bulls, which are surgically altered to prevent successful insemination. Select gomer bulls that will not become excessively large. Adequate disposition and freedom from affliction are also important in gomer bulls.
Direction Considerations
Good management is important for a successful rut detection program. Animals must have conspicuously readable, unique identification. An adequate expanse and equipment for rut detection must be available. This may include binoculars or the ability to approach cattle very closely. Nighttime observations may require artificial lighting, such equally security lights, flashlights, or lanterns. Tape keeping supplies such as paper, writing utensils, and clocks are important, forth with a well-organised recordkeeping system.
Persons detecting estrus must be well trained in heat detection and recording. Instruct all persons detecting estrus to record cow or heifer ID, fourth dimension of observation, and all signs of oestrus observed. Tape all estrus periods detected, even if the cow or heifer volition non be bred on that heat. Then breeding wheels, calendars, or estrus expectancy charts tin be used to assistance predict future heats.
Summary
The effectiveness of detecting rut in cattle varies, depending on method used. Consider the price, labor, and direction system associated with each method in deciding on the best approach to heat detection. The purpose of heat detection likewise determines the level of heat detection accurateness needed. For more information on cattle reproduction or related topics, contact an office of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Heat Detection Aids
Kamar heatmount detector
Application
Utilise with dissever adhesive between tail caput and hop bone over the sacrum of cow.
Detection method
Detector remains white until triggered by weight of mounting animal, and then it turns vivid red.
Direction considerations
Detectors may go partially activated, making information technology hard to tell if heat has occurred.
Detectors can get dislodged from female.
Approximate price
$1-2/ caput
Estrotect heat detector
Application
Apply with self-agglutinative between tail head and hip os over the sacrum of cow and heifer.
Detection method
Detector remains silvery until friction of mounting animate being(s) reveals fluorescent colour under scratched-off silvery layer.
Direction considerations
Low branches, gates and other cattle tin lead to a imitation positive.
Detectors can go dislodged from female person.
Approximate cost
$1-2/ head
Bovine beacon
Application
Glue to tail head of cow or heifer.
Detection method
Contains fluorescent dye that glows in the dark when cow or heifer is mounted past another.
Management considerations
Depression branches, gates and other cattle tin lead to a false positive.
Detectors tin become dislodged from female.
Approximate cost $1-2/ caput
Tail head markers
Application
Smear liberal amounts (at least two to three inches wide) of crayon, chalk, paste or paint marketplace on the tail caput of moo-cow or heifer.
Detection method
When marker is rubbed off tail head (pilus will exist ruffled and pulled back), the cow or heifer has stood to be mounted.
Management considerations
Low branches, gates and other cattle tin pb to a false positive.
May need to reapply every few days.
Judge cost
Less than $i/ head
Chin-ball marker
Application
Fit marking device nether the chin of a teaser balderdash or androgenised cow or heifer.
Detection method
An animal wearing the device mounts and slides of the cow or heifer in hear, leaving an ink marking on the back and hip of female.
Management considerations
Maintenance is necessary for continuous use (ink must exist refilled)
Harness straps may interruption or stretch.
Some markings may be from chin's resting instead of mounting.
Judge cost
$lxx-90/ harness, $thirty-xl/ gallon ink
HeatWatch 11
Application
Place small-scale, digital radio transmitter in a slice of polyester cloth (patch) and glue onto tailhead of moo-cow or heifer.
Detection method
Every time at that place is a mount, data is sent from that transmitter to a small-scale radio receiver (base station) in the proximity of the estrus detection surface area. Information generated on every mount include the female counted, date and time of mountain and duration (in seconds) of each mount.
Management considerations
Patches tin go dislodged from females.
Transmitters can autumn out of patchers if non fairly secured.
Batteries must accept proper charge.
Increased oestrus detection accuracy over other aids.
Estimate cost
$three,950 HeatWatch 11 System (base station, admission paint, software $945/ repeater, $49/ monitor, $3.75 per patch, $3.75/ 10.5 oz caulking tube of gum, $0.028/ volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) bag.
May 2010
Source: https://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/2362/estrus-detection-in-cattle/
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