Comparison of Holstein-Friesian and Norwegian Red dairy cattle for estrus length and estrous signs

Abstract

This study addressed the effect of breed on estrus length and estrous behavior by observing 20 Holstein-Friesian (HF) and 20 Norwegian Red (NRF) cows on an outdoor wood-chip pad through 1 estrous cycle (22d). Detailed behavioral data were collected by continuous (24 h) video monitoring of all cows. Accurate estimation of duration of estrous periods, behavioral signs (sum per period and counts per hour), and duration and number of sexually active groups were reported through all stages of mount estrus (prestand, standing estrus, and poststand). These dependent variables were analyzed with a basic statistical model that included fixed effects for breed and lactation group. Other independent variables (milk yield, body condition score, and number of cows in standing estrus) were added to the basic model one by one and included in an expanded model if they had an effect on the respective dependent variables. Estrus duration was considerably shorter in HF compared with NRF cows for all the major periods: mount estrus (11.2 ± 3.0 vs. 21.3 ± 2.7 h), standing estrus (7.1 ± 1.4 vs. 11.7 ± 1.3 h), mounting period (6.9 ± 2.7 vs. 18.2 ± 2.4 h), and mounted period (9.2 ± 2.8 vs. 17.5 ± 2.6 h). Additionally, the NRF cows spent more time in sexually active groups (36.1 ± 4.0 vs. 17.6 ± 4.8%) during standing estrus compared with HF cows. The NRF cows participated in a greater number of sexually active groups (9.6 ± 1.3 vs. 5.5 ± 1.3) with longer average duration (0.42 ± 0.04 vs. 0.20 ± 0.04 h) and continued to be more active in these groups through late stages of estrus (poststand) compared with the HF breed. Mounting activity differed between breeds as NRF mounted more times in total (46.3 ± 6.2 vs. 18.1 ± 6.3) and per hour (2.6 ± 0.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.5) during mount estrus. In addition, NRF tended to express the primary estrous sign, standing when mounted, more often during standing estrus (32.4 ± 5.0 vs. 18.5 ± 5.2). The HF initiated more unsuccessful mounts (1.6 ± 0.3 vs. 0.6 ± 0.3) per hour than did NRF during mount estrus. A significant effect of milk yield was demonstrated only on this behavior. For other estrous signs, HF cows initiated chase-up (2.0 ± 0.5 vs. 0.5 ± 0.4) and anogenital sniff (3.7 ± 0.6 vs. 2.0 ± 0.5) more frequently (counts per hour), whereas NRF expressed more total head butt behavior (32.3 ± 4.7 vs. 14.2 ± 4.8) during mount estrus. Body condition score had a significant effect on receptive behavior. Measures of estrus duration, sexually active group activity, and behavior related to estrus should be subjected to larger studies for improved heat detection and possible implementation in breeding programs.

A longitudinal study of oestrous characteristics and conception in tie-stalled and loose-housed Swedish dairy cows

“…Swedish Holstein cows tend to prioritize milk yield and go into a faster and deeper NEB than SR cows (Berglund & Danell, 1987;Hjertén, 2006). The breed difference is in agreement with Sveberg et al (2015), who found that the Norwegian Red cows expressed more STBM and mounting activity, whereas HF cows expressed more secondary symptoms, which indicates a higher overall OI in the Norwegian Red cow.…”

Organic or conventional dairy farming in northern Spain: Impacts on cow reproductive performance

“…The results of our study seem to indicate that differences in the reproductive parameters between breeds within the same organic farm may be related to differences in expression of oestrus, which farmers must be able to identify before the cows are inseminated. Oestrous duration is much shorter in Holstein‐Friesian than in Norwegian Red cows, which also participate in greater number of sexually active groups for longer and display different (more frequent) mounting activity (Sveberg et al, ). Similar results were obtained in a study comparing Holstein‐Friesian with Normande cows, with the former showing less obvious signs of oestrus (Cutullic, Delaby, Causer, Michel, & Disenhaus, ).…”

“…Oestrous duration is much shorter in Holstein-Friesian than in Norwegian Red cows, which also participate in greater number of sexually active groups for longer and display different (more frequent) mounting activity (Sveberg et al, 2015). Similar results were obtained in a study comparing Holstein-Friesian with Normande cows, with the former showing less obvious signs of oestrus (Cutullic, Delaby, Causer, Michel, & Disenhaus, 2009 The Holsteinisation phenomenon affects female fertility (Buaban et al, 2015;Lindhé & Philipsson, 1998;Royal et al, 2000), which can be explained by the more intense selection for milk production in the Holstein-Friesian breed (Dillon, Berry, Evans, Buckley, & Horan, 2006;Pryce, Royal, Garnsworthy, & Mao, 2004 (Walsh et al, 2007(Walsh et al, , 2008.…”

Comparison of luteolysis and timed artificial insemination pregnancy rates after administration of PGF2α in the muscle or the ischiorectal fossa in cattle

“…The modern dairy cow is only in estrus for an average of 6-8 hours (Sveberg et al, 2015) and stands to be mounted an average of 4 times (Palmer, Olmos, Boyle, & Mee, 2010). All of these factors have led to the popularity of synchronization technology.…”