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Heat Detection in the Cow. Floron C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MS Professor and Extension Program Leader Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas A&M System College Station, TX 77843 http://extensionvetmed.tamu.edu. The Mechanics of Estrus. The basics of the estrous cycle Why a cow cycles.
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Heat Detection in the Cow Floron C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MS Professor and Extension Program Leader Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas A&M System College Station, TX 77843 http://extensionvetmed.tamu.edu
The Mechanics of Estrus • The basics of the estrous cycle • Why a cow cycles
Duration of heat: 1 day (6-30 hrs) • Heat • Estrus • Days between cycles: 20 days • No heat • Out of heat • Between heats • Diestrus
Cycling • Estrous cycle is 21 days (18-24 days) • Not cycling • Anestrus (no heat)
Cow in heat for 1 day • Follicle and egg • Cow out of heat for 20 days • CL develops for 5 days • Mature CL for 11 days • CL regresses for 4 days • Cow comes in heat after CL regresses
Age cattle should cycle (puberty) • English breeds: 12-13 months • Continental breeds: 14-15 months • Brahman: 14-18 months • Cross breeds: puberty at least 1 month earlier
Determination of Timing for A.I. • Early Stage of Heat • Bawling and walking • Butting, trailing and mounting other cows • Swollen vulva with redness inside • Little if any, clear mucous discharge • Cervix is open • Uterus is rigid
Middle Stage of Heat • Complacent and restless • Very red and swollen vulva • Abundant, clear mucous discharge • Slightly matted hair on tail head • Rides other cows • Ridden by other cows • Stands to be mounted (in standing heat)
Late Stage of Heat • Mount other cows • May still be ridden but will not stand • Nervousness disappear • Vulva swelling and mucus decrease • Mucus becomes slightly rubbery • Hair on tail head becomes matted
Ovulation occurs 14 hours (range 6 to 18 hours) after standing heat ends • Slightly bloody mucous discharge occurs about 24 to 48 hours after standing heat ends
Proper timing to increase conception rates • Heat checks by an observer are 15 to 30 minute durations • Repeated 3 to 4 times a day • Breed the cow 8 to 12 hours after first mounting (standing heat) • When standing heat begins in the morning, breed at night • When standing heat begins at night, breed in the morning
Health Concerns • Non-diseases • Persistent heat • Persistent follicle • Persistent no heat/anestrus • Persistent CL • Embryonic/fetal deaths • Stress • Malnutrition
Infertility • Stress • Malnutrition • Low reproductive tract scores • Low body condition scores • Uterine trauma
Diseases • Embryonic/fetal deaths • Vibriosis • Trichomoniasis • Neosporosis • Brucellosis • IBR • BVD • Hemophilus • Infertility • Uterine infections