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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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2.3.1 Effect <strong>of</strong> Days <strong>in</strong> Milk, Parity, Oestrous Number <strong>and</strong> Time <strong>of</strong> Year <strong>of</strong><br />

Oestrus on Increase <strong>in</strong> Activity<br />

The effect <strong>of</strong> parity, oestrous number <strong>and</strong> time <strong>of</strong> year on activity at<br />

<strong>oestrus</strong> are reported <strong>in</strong> Table 2.2. Maximum activity at <strong>oestrus</strong> was<br />

significantly associated with parity, oestrous number <strong>and</strong> time <strong>of</strong> year. DIM<br />

was not significantly associated with the activity <strong>in</strong>crease at <strong>oestrus</strong>. As<br />

parity <strong>in</strong>creased the activity <strong>in</strong>crease at <strong>oestrus</strong> became smaller. First<br />

parity <strong>cows</strong> had an average activity count 10 units higher at <strong>oestrus</strong> than<br />

those <strong>in</strong> parity 3 <strong>and</strong> above. Percentage <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> activity at <strong>oestrus</strong> was<br />

also significantly related <strong>to</strong> parity, P=0.044, where 2 nd parity <strong>cows</strong> had<br />

larger <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> activity from basel<strong>in</strong>e compared <strong>to</strong> 1 st parity <strong>and</strong> 3 rd<br />

parity or greater <strong>cows</strong>.<br />

When analys<strong>in</strong>g all <strong>cows</strong> with multiple oestrous cycles per lactation it was<br />

reported that oestrous number was significantly related <strong>to</strong> the activity<br />

<strong>in</strong>crease at <strong>oestrus</strong>, P=0.009. Activity <strong>in</strong>creases at <strong>oestrus</strong> were smaller<br />

further through the lactation as the number <strong>of</strong> <strong>oestrus</strong> events without<br />

conception occurred. However, this may be <strong>in</strong>clusive <strong>of</strong> poor <strong>cows</strong> that<br />

were later culled for <strong>in</strong>fertility. The average number <strong>of</strong> oestrous cycles per<br />

lactation from the complete data set was 3.12. When analys<strong>in</strong>g <strong>cows</strong> with 3<br />

consecutive oestrous cycles <strong>to</strong> conception, n=151, activity <strong>in</strong>crease at<br />

<strong>oestrus</strong> was significantly associated with oestrous number, P=0.01. The<br />

activity <strong>in</strong>crease at <strong>oestrus</strong> was greater for the 2 nd <strong>oestrus</strong> post partum<br />

compared <strong>to</strong> the 1 st <strong>and</strong> 3 rd . Further <strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the 1 st <strong>and</strong> 2 nd<br />

<strong>oestrus</strong> post partum, n=215, revealed no significant difference <strong>in</strong> the<br />

activity <strong>in</strong>crease.<br />

Time <strong>of</strong> year <strong>of</strong> <strong>oestrus</strong> was significantly associated with activity at <strong>oestrus</strong>,<br />

P=0.004. Activity <strong>in</strong>creases were greater <strong>in</strong> periods 2 <strong>and</strong> 3, co<strong>in</strong>cid<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

longer day length, compared <strong>to</strong> periods 1 <strong>and</strong> 4.<br />

2.3.2 Effect <strong>of</strong> Milk Yield on Increase <strong>in</strong> Activity<br />

Three different measurements <strong>of</strong> milk yield are reported <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>vestigate their<br />

relationship with activity at <strong>oestrus</strong> (Table 2.1). The significance <strong>of</strong> these<br />

parameters are reported <strong>in</strong> Table 2.3. They all showed the same pattern<br />

that as yield <strong>in</strong>creased activity at <strong>oestrus</strong> decreased. Milk yield at <strong>oestrus</strong><br />

(P=0.002) <strong>and</strong> average daily yield <strong>to</strong> <strong>oestrus</strong> (P=0.002) significantly affect<br />

the <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> activity at <strong>oestrus</strong>. Cumulative lactation yield <strong>to</strong> each<br />

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