A longitudinal study of oestrous characteristics and conception in tie-stalled and loose-housed Swedish dairy cows

• Published in: Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 135 - 144
• Main Authors: Nyman, S., Malm, S. E., Gustafsson, H., Berglund, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.07.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animal and Dairy Science; Cattle; Correlation analysis; Dairy cattle; Dairy farms; Estrus; Husdjursvetenskap; Intensive farming; Longitudinal studies; Milk; oestrous sign; oestrous symptom; oestrus; oestrus duration; oestrus intensity; Swedish Holstein; Swedish Red; Visual perception
• ISSN: 0906-4702; 1651-1972; 1651-1972
• DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2017.1313306

The presence and importance of visual oestrous symptoms and the relation to conception, breed, housing system and milk yield were studied. Data were collected from a Swedish research herd during a 16-year period. Local, secondary and primary oestrous symptoms and an overall oestrus intensity score (OI) were studied. Decreasing trends in oestrous expression and conception rates (CR), and an increase in CR with more intensive oestrus, from 24% at OI score one (very week) to 54% at OI score five (very strong) were observed. The mean interval from first to last observed oestrus symptom was long with a large variation (54 ± SD = 32 h). Generally, irrespectively of housing system, Swedish Red cows had higher CR, more intensive oestruses and longer oestrus durations compared to Swedish Holstein cows. Local oestrous symptoms, with CR of 24-28%, were most frequently detected, which is why more attention should be paid to local oestrous symptoms.