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novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

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The secondary signs <strong>of</strong> <strong>oestrus</strong> can be categorised <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> sexual, social <strong>and</strong><br />

agnostic <strong>in</strong>teractions which facilitate the change <strong>in</strong> behaviour <strong>of</strong> the cow.<br />

Sexual <strong>in</strong>teractions are mount<strong>in</strong>g or try<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> mount other <strong>cows</strong> at the<br />

head or tail, ch<strong>in</strong> rest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> sniff<strong>in</strong>g/ lick<strong>in</strong>g the ano-genital (vulva) region<br />

<strong>of</strong> a cow. Social <strong>in</strong>teractions are lick<strong>in</strong>g another cow (flank, head, neck)<br />

<strong>and</strong> agnostic <strong>in</strong>teractions such as aggression <strong>and</strong> butt<strong>in</strong>g others (Kerbrat<br />

<strong>and</strong> Disenhaus, 2004). However, some <strong>of</strong> these symp<strong>to</strong>ms are related <strong>to</strong><br />

other behavioural characteristics <strong>and</strong> do not always mean that a cow is<br />

com<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> <strong>oestrus</strong>. Observations have been made which show that if a<br />

cow is <strong>to</strong> mount the head <strong>of</strong> another then she is nearly always (88.5%) <strong>in</strong><br />

heat, as this is the secondary <strong>oestrus</strong> sign with the highest degree <strong>of</strong><br />

accuracy (Britt et al., 1986).<br />

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