title: Oestrus detection in dairy cows by milk temperature measurement.
abstract: The milk and body temperatures of 15 cows were monitored twice daily at milking times, over a total of 30 oestrous periods. The best determination of oestrus was based on a temperature rise of at least 0.2 degree C over the corresponding mean temperature of the three preceding days. This resulted in 72 +/- 16 per cent of oestruses, predicted by serial progesterone assays, being successfully detected by serial progesterone assays, being successfully detected and 11 +/- 3 per cent of false positives. The variable extent of the temperature rise at oestrus and the large daily fluctuations in temperature for individual cows, resulted in a moderate oestrus detection rate accompanied by an unacceptable level of false positives.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Fordham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rowlinson
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D004972:Estrus Detection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008892:Milk / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature