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Uterine Contractions and Fertility Following Clitoral Massage of Dairy Cattle in Estrus

Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
and Eastern Artificial Insemination Cooperative, Inc., Ithaca, NY 14850

ABSTRACT

Lactating and nonlactating Holstein cows received 30 s of gentle clitoral massage to determine its effect on uterine contractility and oxytocin concentrations in blood. Clitoral stimulation caused an immediate single uterine contraction, and this could be repeated at 2.5-min intervals. Oxytocin concentrations did not change during intensive blood sampling following clitoral massage. Thus, the uterine response is interpreted as neurally mediated. Eighteen full-time inseminators were allotted to two groups, balanced so that each day half were inseminating control and half treated animals (5 s of clitoral massage following insemination). The 56-day nonreturns for 2090 controls were 74.3% versus 74.0% for 2049 animals receiving clitoral massage. Heifers were more fertile than cows (81.9% versus 70.6% nonreturns), but there was no indication that clitoral massage altered the nonreturn rate in either age group. Also, the time of day animals were inseminated did not affect nonreturn rate.

¹ Cornell University.

² Eastern Artificial Insemination Cooperative, Inc.