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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 85 No. 5 1150-1156
© 2002 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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The Relationship between Estrous Behavioral Score and Time of Ovulation in Dairy Cattle

F. J. C. M. Van Eerdenburg 1, D. Karthaus 1, M. A. M. Taverne 1, I. Mercis 2, and O. Szenci 3

1 Department of Farm Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
2 Holstein-Friesian dairy farm of Csipotelek, Agricultural and Commercial Holding Company of Bóly, H-7827 Beremend, Hungary
3 Department of Obstetrics and Reproduction, University of Veterinary Science, Istvá n ut 2, H-1400 Budapest, Hungary

One of the major contributors to poor fertility of a dairy herd is ineffective detection of estrus. Recently, it has become evident that cow factors contribute largely to low detection rates. Until now, standing behavior has been the symptom used to determine the right moment for insemination. However, standing behavior is not observed in over 50% of the cows in estrus in a number of herds, and no data are available to relate the moment of ovulation to other estrous symptoms. Therefore, in the present study, cows were observed for a number of visual signs of estrus, twice per day for 30 min, and the moment of ovulation was estimated by transrectal ultrasonographic scanning of the ovaries. In this study, 100 cows were detected in estrus visually, using a scoring system. Standing behavior was observed in 50% of those cows, although there was more than one cow in estrus at a time in most (85%) cases. There was no correlation between follicular size and ovulation time or estrous behavior score. Levels of 305-d milk yield and parity were also not correlated with estrous behavior scores. However, a significant correlation (0.31) was found between detection score and day of ovulation. A retrospective analysis revealed that cows that ovulated 0 to 24 h after artificial insemination (AI) scored almost three times the number of estrous behavior points compared to the ones that ovulated 24 to 48 h after AI. Ovulation more than 48 h after AI resulted in pregnancy in only 15% of the cows.

Key Words: estrous behavior • follicular size • pregnancy outcome • parity

Submitted on September 13, 2001
Accepted on November 28, 2001




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E. Wall, I. M. S. White, M. P. Coffey, and S. Brotherstone
The Relationship Between Fertility, Rump Angle, and Selected Type Information in Holstein-Friesian Cows
J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2005; 88(4): 1521 - 1528.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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