A Research on Signs of Oestrus and its Detection in Cows Reared at Menemen Research, Practice and Production Farm of Agricultural Faculty of Ege University
Project no. 318 · Status: Kapanmış · 2015
Summary
The purpose of this study is to exhibit the pattern of oestrus signs of three different breeds of dairy cows (Holstein, Simmental, Esmer) which are raised at Menemen Research, Practice and Production Farm of Agriculturel Faculty of Ege University. Furthermore, in this study the efficieny of a Herd Management Software (Dairy Plan C21) equipped with an automatic oestrus detection system, which was already present in the Faculty Farm, was investigated. The study was conducted in dairy cattle enterprise of the Menemen Research, Practice and Production Farm between the time period of April 2015 and December 2016. The study materials were 45 cows from 3 different breeds which calved first time from March 2015 to August 2015. Furthermore, oestrus was monitored after second calvings in 28 cows. To detect oestrus signs of cows by visual observation a detailed daily monitoring program was applied. Cows were visually observed for any signs of oestrus four times daily, each lasting thirty minutes, in equal intervals. The time periods for visual observation was set as between 05:30-06:00, 11:30-12:00, 17:30-18:00 and 23:30-00:00 hours. Furthermore, beginning from November 2016 a video camera recording system, which was equipped with 8 cameras, was also used to detect the oestrus signs during the visual observation periods. All signs detected by visual observation were scored according to the scoring system of Van Eerdenburg et al. (1996), and finally a total oestrus score was calculated. Cows found to have increased activity by the activity measurement and evaluation sub system of the computerized herd management system (Westfalia Surge Dairy Plan C21 (Version 5.2)), was compared with cows, which were detected by visual observation. Off totally 370 detected oestruses, 35.3% were determined at the midnight (from 23:30 to 00:00), 27.6% at the morning (from 05:30 to 06:00), 29.7% at the afternoon (from 17:30 to 18:00) and 7.8% at the noon (from 11:30 to 12:00) visual observation periods. The time interval between calving and first oestrus was found as 51.7 days in the first and 26 days in the second lactation. By detailed investigation of the video camera records, the duration of oestrus was calculated as 7:47:09 hours on average. Mucouse vaginal discharge was observed in only 18% of oestruses in first lactation and in 20.4% in second lactation. Flehmen response was observed (1 to 4 times) in only 15.5% of oestruses in first lactation and in 25.5% in second lactation. Restlessness were observed (1 to 2 times) in all detected oestruses both in first and second lactation. Sniffing the genitalia of other cows were observed (1 to 9 times) in 57.9% of oestruses in first lactation and in 89.8% in second lactation. Chin resting was observed (1 to 12 times) in 83.7% of oestruses in first lactation and in 95.6% in second lactation. Being mounted but not standing was observed (1 to 5 times) in 3.4% of oestruses in first lactation and in 13.1% in second lactation. Mounting other cows was observed (1 to 8 times) in 37.8% of oestruses in first lactation and in 13.9% in second lactation. Mounting head side of other cows was observed (1 to 6 times) in 50.2% of oestruses in first lactation and in 56.2% in second lactation. Standing heat was observed (1 to 8 times) in 85.4% of oestruses in first lactation and in 86.9% in second lactation. Total oestrus score was determined for first and second lactation as 353 and 389 in average respectively. 62% of cows detected in oestrus by visual observation were also present in the daily oestrus warning lists (based on automatic activity measurement) of the Herd Management Software around the days of visual detection (the same day and ± 2 days). The success of oestrus detection depends firstly on systematic and conscious observation. If they are used efficiently, techniques too developed to automatically measure the signs of oestrus have an improving effect by supporting visual observation.