Dairy cows continuously-housed in tie-stalls failed to manifest activity changes during estrus

Felton, C. A., Colazo, M. G., Ponce-Barajas, P., Bench, C. J. and Ambrose, D. J. 2012. Dairy cows continuously-housed in tie-stalls failed to manifest activity changes during estrus. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 189–196. While pedometers are effective for estrus detection in free-stall herds, their efficacy in tie-stalls is not established. The objectives were to determine if pedometers equipped with a behavior tag for monitoring lying activity (AfiMilk Pedometer Plus Tag system) can accurately record cow activity, and if they can facilitate estrus detection in dairy cows continuously housed in tie-stalls. Nineteen lactating Holstein cows were subjected to estrus induction with prostaglandin F2α, and 18 pregnant cows served as controls. Activity was monitored for 10 d using pedometers and 24-h video recording. Pedometer and video records were compared for 6 d surrounding estrus; stepping (rc=0.85; P<0.01), lying time (rc=0.94; P<0.01), and lying bouts (rc=0.89; P<0.01) were highly correlated. Progesterone conce...

[1]  L. Lin.  Assay Validation Using the Concordance Correlation Coefficient , 1992 .

[2]  P. L. Senger,et al.  The estrus detection problem: new concepts, technologies, and possibilities. , 1994, Journal of dairy science.

[3]  J. D. Armstrong,et al.  Determinants of estrous behavior in lactating Holstein cows. , 1986, Journal of dairy science.

[4]  M L McGilliard,et al.  Interrelationships with estrous behavior and conception in dairy cattle. , 1981, Journal of dairy science.

[5]  J. A. Fregonesi,et al.  Behaviour, performance and health indicators of welfare for dairy cows housed in strawyard or cubicle systems , 2001 .

[6]  C. Felton,et al.  Large variations exist in prepartum activity among dairy cows continuously housed in a tie-stall barn , 2013 .

[7]  L. Lin,et al.  A concordance correlation coefficient to evaluate reproducibility. , 1989, Biometrics.

[8]  R Vishwanath,et al.  Estrus detection using radiotelemetry or visual observation and tail painting for dairy cows on pasture. , 1998, Journal of dairy science.

[9]  C. Krohn.  Behaviour of dairy cows kept in extensive (loose housing/pasture) or intensive (tie stall) environments. III. Grooming, exploration and abnormal behaviour , 1994 .

[10]  T. Nakao,et al.  Silent ovulation, based on walking activity and milk progesterone concentrations, in Holstein cows housed in a free-stall barn. , 2010, Theriogenology.

[11]  Bas Kemp,et al.  Pedometer readings for estrous detection and as predictor for time of ovulation in dairy cattle. , 2005, Theriogenology.

[12]  C. A. Kiddy,et al.  Variation in physical activity as an indication of estrus in dairy cows. , 1977, Journal of dairy science.

[13]  J. Kastelic,et al.  Luteolysis, onset of estrus, and ovulation in Holstein heifers given prostaglandin F2alpha concurrent with, or 24 hours prior to, removal of an intravaginal, progesterone-releasing device. , 2004, Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire.

[14]  R. Firk,et al.  Automation of oestrus detection in dairy cows: a review , 2002 .

[15]  A. D. Kennedy,et al.  Detection of estrus by radiotelemetric monitoring of vaginal and ear skin temperature and pedometer measurements of activity. , 1993, Journal of dairy science.

[16]  Michael M Schutz,et al.  Influence of milk yield, stage of lactation, and body condition on dairy cattle lying behaviour measured using an automated activity monitoring sensor , 2009, Journal of Dairy Research.

[17]  F. van Eerdenburg,et al.  When is a cow in estrus? Clinical and practical aspects. , 2010, Theriogenology.

[18]  R. Nebel,et al.  Evaluation of systematic breeding programs for lactating dairy cows: a review. , 1998, Journal of dairy science.

[19]  S L Spahr,et al.  Detection and characterization of estrus in dairy cattle with an electronic heatmount detector and an electronic activity tag. , 2001, Journal of dairy science.

[20]  S. Kerbrat,et al.  A proposition for an updated behavioural characterisation of the oestrus period in dairy cows , 2004 .

[21]  J S Walton,et al.  Indicators of estrus in Holstein cows housed in tie stalls. , 1986, Journal of dairy science.