Observable signs of heat include mounting or attempting to mount other cattle, standing to be mounted by other cattle, smelling other females, trailing other females, bellowing, depressed appetite, nervous and excitable behavior, mud on hindquarters and sides of cattle, roughed up tail hair, vulva swelling and ...
We conclude that mucus discharge, tumefaction of vulva and reddening of vulvar mucus membrane can be good predictor ovulation in this breed of cattle.
The age at which beef heifers should be first mated depends upon the economics of management input against returns. Well grown British breed heifers can be mated as early as 15 months to calve at 24 months, but require extra managerial effort if good results are to be obtained.
Bulling is a behaviour seen in cattle when one mounts another, usually when one or the other is a female in oestrus (on heat); "bulling" is commonly used as a term for a female in oestrus. Female cattle in oestrus may mount any adult cattle, especially a bull (fertile male) if one is present, but they will also mount ...
It takes at least 30 days after calving for a cow's reproductive tract to return to normal. Therefore, some cows can be bred starting 45-60 days after calving. Your veterinarian should palpate the reproductive tract of each cow as soon after 30 days after calving as possible to make sure the cow is ready to breed.
Observation of estrus (period in heat) after artificial insemination or natural service is a simple and early method of pregnancy detection. If a cow does not return to estrus 18 to 20 days after breeding, conception probably has occurred.
Ovulation occurs, on average, 28 hours after the onset of standing heat.
Other signs of heat include increased nervousness, mounting of other cows while refusing to be mounted themselves, a swollen vulva or excess of licking or other cows, are often general signs of estrus. Once the cow stands to be mounted, this is the best sign that the cow is in heat or will be ready to breed.
A cow with a silent heat doesn't display any of the obvious signs, like licking or sniffing other cows, mounting, standing to be mounted, or acting nervous and excitable. Cow sniffing another in heat. However, she can still become pregnant, and the bull will know about it, even if it is vasectomised.
Bellowing, restlessness and trailing.
Cows in heat are more restless and alert, standing when their herd mates are laying down resting, trailing behind to try to mount other cows and bellowing more frequently. Cows behaving this way should be monitored closely for standing behavior.
The average duration of standing heat is 15 to 18 hours, but heat duration may vary from 8 to 30 hours among cows. An estrous cow usually stands to be mounted 20 to 55 times during her estrous period.
So, when a lady cow is coming into heat, she will find other lady cows that are already in heat. Then she will rest her head on the second cow's back and if that is OK, then she might jump on her like a boy cow would. This activity alerts the herd bull to come over and check these attractive ladies out.
As the calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that will indicate parturition is imminent. Changes that are gradually seen are udder development, or making bag, and the relaxation and swelling of the vulva or springing. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the near future.
Forty-three oestruses were observed in 35 pregnant cows in one beef suckler herd and 17 in a dairy herd; at each oestrus the pregnant cow stood willingly to be mounted by another cow or bull.
Like humans cows have a gestation period of around 9 months. This means if you want your cows to calve around September/October time you should be getting them in calf at around November/December. 23 November mating works out to be late August/early September.
The standard treatment for cows with a corpus luteum (CL) is an injection of prostaglandin (PG) which will bring most cows into heat two to four days after injection. Combining the PG with heat detection focussed on the treated cow will result in cows getting pregnant more quickly.
A common question is “can my bull effectively breed each cow or heifer when everyone comes into heat at once?”. The answer is yes. Bulls should have experience, about 3+ years, have a BCS of at least 6, and have a scrotal circumference of at least 34cm. The bull should have also been through a breeding soundness exam.
Cue the Marvin Gaye music, because just like many animals have mating calls, so do cattle. A study found cows moo more frequently and more loudly during the peak portion of their reproductive cycle. I guess it's their way of saying, “I'm in the mooood.”
Seven of nine pregnant cows at oestrus stood willingly to be mounted by a bull. On seven occasions, bulls exposed only to cervical mucus from pregnant cows showing oestrus did not display flehmen.
What are the do's and don'ts of breeding a bull to his daughter, mother, granddaughter, or sister? Mating any of the above would result in a high level of inbreeding. Generally speaking, inbreeding of this nature should be avoided.
The good news is: It is possible to leave bulls with the cows year-round and still maintain a calving season of three months or less.
To achieve the ideal calving distribution, the guidelines for the length of mating are: maximum 60 days for bulls run with cows. minimum 45 days for bulls run with cows (if bulls are not run with the cows for long enough, the calving percentage is decreased).
Most heifers will reach puberty and be bred by 12 to 14 months of age and will be between 55% and 65% of their mature weight when they first begin to exhibit estrous cycles.