Behavioural signs of oestrus during pregnancy in lactating dairy cows.
Two herds of approximately 50 dairy cows were observed for oestrous behaviour for 6 weeks, 12 time a day for 30 minutes. It appeared that 3.08% of the pregnant cows showed oestrous behaviour during pregnancy (EBP) in such an intensity that they would have been considered in oestrus. With a less rigid oestrus detection threshold, 10.8% of the pregnant cows would have been considered to be in oestrus. Animals showed EBP during all months of pregnancy, but most of the behavior was observed in the middle of the gestation period.
Dijkhuizen
T J
TJ
Department of Herd Health and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Eerdenburg
F J
FJ
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology