Using kinematics to detect micro-behavioural changes relative to ovulation in naturally cycling tie-stall dairy heifers

Guesgen, M.J.; Bench, C. J.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2017.11.019

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, the decrease in tail movement frequency on d −1 may be the better estrus indicator, as tail movements become more still as estrus approaches. Similar to the findings of Guesgen and Bench (2018), it may not be an increase in behavior frequency but rather the subsequent decrease in frequency that is the better estrus alert. Anecdotally, members of the research team noted that when tail movement frequency decreased the day before confirmed ovulation, cyclic cows tended to be more still overall and to move their tail to one side, and hold it there, to expose the vulva.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…More recently, subtle microbehavior biometrics that are thought to prime more overt behavioral indicators of physiological changes associated with ovulation have also been used within a tiestall environment to assess estrus (Guesgen and Bench, 2018). The de novo application of combined behavioral biometrics and IRT in tiestall housing and automated milking systems may serve to further optimize the accuracy of estrus alerts compared with visual observation methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Marquez

Ambrose

Schaefer

et al. 2019

Journal of Dairy Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%