Influence of estrus on changes of locomotion activity and rumination time in cattle dams

Abstract

Article Details: Received: 2020-10-15 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.127-130The study is focused on the evaluation of the changes in locomotion activity and rumination time in heifers and dairy cows of Holstein breed during estrus. We analysed the locomotion activity and rumination time using the Heatime RuminAct device on 110 dams (78 dairy cows and 32 heifers). We evaluated a total of 298 estrus cycles during the reference period of 3 days before estrus, 3 days after estrus and on the day of the estrus occurrence. The locomotion of cows was expressed in units of locomotion activity in 24 hours (u.24h-1). Rumination time was expressed in minutes in 24 hours (min.24h-1). Based on the results of the study, we established that during estrus, the locomotion activity of dams increases to 888 u 24 h-1 (P <0.001), which represents an increase of +305 u.24 h-1 (+38%). Rumination time of dams was considerably affected by estrus as well and decreased from 582 min.24 h-1 (1 day before estrus) to 482 min.24-1 in estrus time (-43 min.24 h-1).Key words: cattle dams, estrus, locomotion activity, rumination time, Heatime RuminAct ReferencesAdin, G., et al. (2008). Heat production, eating behaviour and milk yield of lactating cows fed two rations differing in roughage content and digestibility under heat load conditions. Livestock Science, 19, 145-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2008.03.012Arney, D.R. & Kitwood, S.E. & Phillips, C.J.C. (1994). The increase in activity during oestrus in dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 40, 211-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(94)90062-0Brehme, U. et al. (2006). ALT pedometer- A new sensor-aided measurement system for improvement in oestrus detection. Research in Agricultural Engineering, 52, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2007.08.014De Silva, A. et al. (1981). Interrelationships with estrus behaviour and conception in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 64, 2409-2418. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(81)82864-0Firk, R. et al. (2002). Systematic effects on activity, milk yield, milk flow rate and electrical conductivity. Archiv fur Tierzucht, 45, 213-222. 10.5194/aab-45-213-2002Forde, N. et al. (2011). Oestrous cycles in Bos taurus cattle. Animal Reproduction Science, 124, 163-169. 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.08.025 Hurnik, J. & King, G. & Robertson, H. (1975). Estrus and related behaviour in postpartum Holstein cows. Applied Animal Ethology, 2, 55–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3762(75)90065-6Lukas, J. & Reneau, J. & Linn, J. (2008). Water intake and dry mater intake changes as a feeding management tool and indicator of health and estrus status in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 91, 3385-3394. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0926Madureira, A.M.L. et al. (2013). Factors affecting expression of estrus of lactating dairy cows using activity monitors. J. Dairy Sci. 96, 600–601. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9672Maltz, E. et al. (1997). The body weight of dairy cows. Introductory study into body weight changes in dairy cows as a management aid. Livest. Prod. Sci. 48, 175–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(97)00024-9Mičiaková, M. et al. (2018). Several methods of estrus detection in cattle dams: a review. Acta Universitatis Agriculture et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis. 66, 619-625 10.11118/actaun201866020619Phillips, C.J.C. and Schofield, S.A. (1990). The effects of environment and stage of the oestrous cycle on the behaviour of dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 27, 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(90)90004-WReith, S. and Hoy, S. (2012a). Automatic monitoring of rumination time for oestrus detection in dairy cattle. International Conference of Agricultural Engineering, Valencia, Spain, July 8-12, C0621.Reith, S. and Hoy, S. (2012b). Relationship between daily rumination time and estrus of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 95, 1-2. 10.3168/jds.2012-5316 Reith, S. et al. (2014a). Influence of estrus on dry matter intake, water intake and BW of dairy cows. Animal, 8, 748-753. 10.1017/S1751731114000494 Reith, S. & Brandt, H. & Hoy, S. (2014b). Simultaneous analysis of activity and rumination time, based on collar-mounted sensor technology, of dairy cows over the peri-estrus period. Livestock Science, 170, 219-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2014.10.013Roelofs, J.B et al. (2005). Pedometer readings for estrus detection and as predictor for time of ovulation in dairy cattle. Theriogenology, 64, 1690-1703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.04.004Rorie, R.W. & Bilby, T.R. & Lester, T.D. (2002). Application of electronic estrus detection technologies to reproductive management of cattle. Theriogenology, 57, 137–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(01)00663-XSchirmann, K. et al. (2009). Technical note: Validation of a system for monitoring rumination in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 92, 6052-6055. 10.3168/jds.2009-2361Schirmann, K. et al. (2012). Rumination and its relationship to feeding and lying behaviour in Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 95, 3212-3217. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4741Yániz, J.L. et al. (2006). Factors affecting walking activity at estrus during postpartum period and subsequent fertility in dairy cows. Theriogenology, 66, 1943-1950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.05.01

    Similar works