Infrared thermography and behavioral biometrics associated with estrus indicators and ovulation in estrus-synchronized dairy cows housed in tiestalls. 2019

H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada.

Most Canadian dairy herds operate in tiestall housing (61%), where average estrus detection rates may be lower than 54%. The objective of this study was to evaluate infrared thermography and behavioral biometrics as indicators of estrus in dairy cows. Eighteen cyclic multiparous cows (Synch) were subjected to an estrus synchronization protocol, and 18 pregnant cows (control) received a sham protocol on the same schedule and frequency as the cyclic cow treatment. A decline in plasma concentrations of progesterone and the appearance of a dominant follicle using transrectal ultrasonography were used as indirect indicators of estrus, and the disappearance of a dominant follicle was used to confirm ovulation. All cows were monitored via visual cameras to determine the frequency of treading, drinking, neighbor interaction, tail movement, lying, and shifting behaviors. Infrared thermograms were recorded at the eye, muzzle, cheek, neck, front right foot, front left foot, rump, flank, vulva area, tail head, and withers. To evaluate the accuracy of behavioral and thermal parameters, a predefined minimum acceptable value (i.e., threshold) for estrus alerts (>0.30 Youden J index and >0.60 area under the curve) was used. Ovulation was confirmed in 14 (77.7%) out of 18 Synch cows. Eye, cheek, neck, rump, flank, vulva area, and wither thermograms exhibited higher temperatures at 48 h [cycle threshold (Δt) = +0.30 to 1.20°C] and 24 h before ovulation compared with 4 d prior to ovulation (Δt = 0.06 to 0.11°C) and during ovulation day (Δt = 0.03 to 0.32°C) in the Synch group. In addition, control cows exhibited greater treading activity per day compared with Synch cows (20.84 ± 0.39 vs. 16.35 events/5 min ± 0.34), and tail movement frequency was greater in Synch cows compared with control cows (14.84 ± 2.7 vs. 10.11 ± 4.7 events/5 min). However, within Synch cows, tail movement was the only behavior that significantly increased in frequency 2 d before ovulation (11.81 ± 1.71 events/5 min) followed by a decrease in frequency 1 d before ovulation (4.67 ± 1.05 events/5 min) compared with ovulation day (0 d; 6.10 ± 1.25 events/5 min) and during luteolysis (3 d before ovulation; 6.01 ± 1.25 events/5 min). Upon evaluation of all variables (thermograms and behavior frequencies) as estrus indicators at 48 and 24 h before ovulation, treading and tail movements before milking and 9 thermal locations satisfied the predefined minimum acceptable value for estrus alerts. This study demonstrates that fluctuations in radiated temperature measured at specific anatomical locations and the frequency of tail movements and treading behaviors can be used as a noninvasive estrus alerts in multiparous cows housed in a tiestall system.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010060 Ovulation The discharge of an OVUM from a rupturing follicle in the OVARY. Ovulations
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D003612 Dairying Production, storage, and distribution of DAIRY PRODUCTS. Dairy Industry,Dairy Industries,Industries, Dairy,Industry, Dairy
D004972 Estrus Detection Methods for recognizing the state of ESTRUS. Detection, Estrus,Detections, Estrus,Estrus Detections
D004973 Estrus Synchronization Occurrence or induction of ESTRUS in all of the females in a group at the same time, applies only to non-primate mammals with ESTROUS CYCLE. Estrus Synchronizations,Synchronization, Estrus,Synchronizations, Estrus
D005260 Female Females
D006799 Housing, Animal The physical environment in which animals are maintained. Animal Housing
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001699 Biometry The use of statistical and mathematical methods to analyze biological observations and phenomena. Biometric Analysis,Biometrics,Analyses, Biometric,Analysis, Biometric,Biometric Analyses
D013817 Thermography Imaging the temperatures in a material, or in the body or an organ. Imaging is based on self-emanating infrared radiation (HEAT WAVES), or on changes in properties of the material or tissue that vary with temperature, such as ELASTICITY; MAGNETIC FIELD; or LUMINESCENCE. Temperature Mapping,Mapping, Temperature,Mappings, Temperature,Temperature Mappings

Related Publications

H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
November 1986, Journal of dairy science,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
October 1984, Journal of dairy science,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
February 2024, The Journal of reproduction and development,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
July 2002, Animal reproduction science,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
December 2006, Journal of dairy science,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
January 2010, The Journal of reproduction and development,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
February 1997, Journal of dairy science,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
April 2004, Journal of dairy science,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
March 2015, Journal of dairy science,
H J Perez Marquez, and D J Ambrose, and A L Schaefer, and N J Cook, and C J Bench
November 2020, Theriogenology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!