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Estrus-Related Odors in Cows: Time of Occurrence

National Program Staff, SEA-AR-USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705 and Department of Bioengineering, Behavioral Science Section, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78284

ABSTRACT

One Catahoula Leopard Cowdog and three German Shepherd dogs, previously trained to detect odors characteristic of estrus in cows, were used in three experiments to determine when estrus-related odor first appears, how long it persists, and when it disappears in relation to time of estrus. Samples were swabs of reproductive tract fluids taken from vaginas of cycling cows on die day of estrus, at diestrus (8 to 10 days after estrus), and at daily intervals before and after estrus. Estrous odor emerges slowly during the 3 days before estrus, reaches a definite peak in intensity on the day of estrus, and disappears within 1 day thereafter.