HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Helmer, S. D. Articles by Britt, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Helmer, S. D. Articles by Britt, J. H.

Mounting Behavior as Affected by Stage of Estrous Cycle in Holstein Heifers¹

Department of Animal Science, Box 7621, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7621

² Reprint request.

ABSTRACT

Nine Holstein heifers whose estrous cycles were synchronized were observed during three subsequent consecutive cycles. Observations of heifers during each periestrus period began when the first heifer reached day 15 of an estrous cycle and ended 36 h after onset of estrus for the ninth heifer. There were 118 1-h observations at 6-h intervals during the three periestrus periods. Estrous cycles were divided into postestrual, luteal, pre-estrual, and estrual stages by blood progesterone profiles and estrus. Heifers of these four stages accounted for 27.5, 48.3, 15.4, and 8.8% of heifers available to mount during the 118 observations, and heifers of each stage made 9.0, 5.2, 18.9, and 66.9% of attempted mounts. When number of heifers in estrus simultaneously increased from one to five, total attempted mounts and stands per hour increased from 10.1 to 63.5 and from 4.5 to 48.5. Stands per heifer per hour increased significantly as number of heifers in estrus increased from one to two and tended to increase as number in estrus increased further. Presence of one pre-estrual heifer in a group containing one estrual heifer increased total stands per hour from 2.3 to 5.0. Efficiency of detection of estrus may depend on proportion of animals within estrous cycle stages that have highest mounting activity.

¹ Paper No. 9409 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the products named nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. M. Long, M. P. Davis, M. J. Prado-Cooper, I. Rubio, and R. P. Wettemann Estrus and Luteal Activity of Postpartum Beef Cows After Treatment with Estradiol Professional Animal Scientist, August 1, 2009; 25(4): 481 - 486. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. N. Floyd, C. A. Lents, F. J. White, and R. P. Wettemann Effect of number of cows in estrus and confinement area on estrous behavior of beef cows J Anim Sci, June 1, 2009; 87(6): 1998 - 2004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. R. Stein, D. T. Allen, E. B. Perry, J. C. Bruner, K. W. Gates, T. G. Rehberger, K. Mertz, D. Jones, and L. J. Spicer Effects of Feeding Propionibacteria to Dairy Cows on Milk Yield, Milk Components, and Reproduction J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2006; 89(1): 111 - 125. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. White, R. P. Wettemann, M. L. Looper, T. M. Prado, and G. L. Morgan Seasonal effects on estrous behavior and time of ovulation in nonlactating beef cows J Anim Sci, December 1, 2002; 80(12): 3053 - 3059. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]