Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T16:12:31.276Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influence of estrus on dry matter intake, water intake and BW of dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2014

S. Reith ,
M. Pries ,
C. Verhülsdonk ,
H. Brandt  and
S. Hoy
S. Reith*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Leihgesterner Weg 52, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
M. Pries
Affiliation:
Agriculture Chamber Northrhine-Westphalia, Nevinghoff 40, D-48147 Münster, Germany
C. Verhülsdonk
Affiliation:
Agriculture Chamber Northrhine-Westphalia, Nevinghoff 40, D-48147 Münster, Germany
H. Brandt
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Leihgesterner Weg 52, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
S. Hoy
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Leihgesterner Weg 52, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to analyze whether dry matter intake (DMI), water intake (WI) and BW were influenced by estrus. A second objective was to determine whether correlations exist among these traits in non-estrous days. Data collection included 34 Holstein-Friesian cows from the research farm ‘Haus Riswick’ of the Agricultural Chamber North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. On an individual basis, daily DMI and daily WI were measured automatically by a scale in the feeding trough and a WI monitoring system, respectively. BW was determined by a walk-through scale fitted with two gates – one in front and one behind the scale floor. Data were analyzed around cow’s estrus with day 0 (the day of artificial insemination leading to conception). Means during the reference period, defined as days −3 to −1 and 1 to 3, were compared with the means during estrus (day 0). DMI, WI and BW were affected by estrus. Of all cows, 85.3% and 66.7% had reduced DMI and WI, respectively, on day 0 compared with the reference period. Lower BW was detected in 69.2% of all cows relative to the reference period. During the reference period, average DMI, WI and BW were 23.0, 86.6 and 654.8 kg. A minimum DMI of 20.4 kg and a minimum BW of 644.2 kg were detected on the day of estrus, whereas the minimum WI occurred on the day before estrus. After estrus, DMI, WI and BW returned to baseline values. Intake of concentrated feed did not seem to be influenced by estrus. Positive correlations existed between daily DMI and daily WI (r=0.63) as well as between cows’ daily BW and daily WI (r=0.23). The results warrant further investigations to determine whether monitoring of DMI, WI and BW may assist in predicting estrus.

Keywords

estrusdry matter intakewater intakeBWdairy cows
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 8 , Issue 5 , May 2014 , pp. 748 - 753
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allrich, RD 1994. Endocrine and neural control of estrus in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 77, 2738–2744.Google Scholar
Arney, DR, Kitwood, S and Phillips, CJC 1994. The increase in activity during oestrus in dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40, 211–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berka, T, Stípkova, M, Volek, J, Rehák, D, Mateju, G and Jílek, F 2004. Monitoring of physical activity for management of cow reproduction. Czech Journal of Animal Science 49, 281–288.Google Scholar
Brehme, U, Stollberg, U, Holz, R and Schleusener, T 2006. ALT pedometer – a new sensor aided measurement system for improvement in oestrus detection. Research in Agricultural Engineering 52, 1–10.Google Scholar
Dado, RG and Allen, MS 1994. Variation in and relationship among feeding, chewing, and drinking variables for lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 77, 132–144.Google Scholar
De Silva, AW, Anderson, GW, Gwazdauskas, FC, McGilliard, ML and Lineweaver, JA 1981. Interrelationships with estrous behavior and conception in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 64, 2409–2418.Google Scholar
Diskin, MG and Sreenan, JM 2000. Expression and detection of oestrus in cattle. Reproduction Nutrition Development 40, 481–491.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Firk, R, Stamer, E, Junge, W and Krieter, J 2002. Automation of oestrus detection in dairy cows: a review. Livestock Production Science 75, 219–232.Google Scholar
Holter, JB and Urban, WE Jr 1992. Water partitioning and intake prediction in dry and lactating Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 75, 1472–1479.Google Scholar
Hurnik, JF, King, GJ and Robertson, HA 1975. Estrous and related behaviour in postpartum Holstein cows. Applied Animal Ethology 2, 55–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kamphuis, C, DelaRue, B, Burke, CR and Jago, J 2012. Field evaluation of 2 collar-mounted activity meters for detection cows in estrus on a large pasture-grazed dairy farm. Journal of Dairy Science 95, 3045–3056.Google Scholar
Kaufmann, O, Azizi, O and Hasselmann, L 2007. Untersuchungen zum Fressverhalten hochleistender Milchkühe in der Frühlaktation. Züchtungskunde 79, 219–230.Google Scholar
Kerbrat, S and Disenhaus, C 2004. A proposition for an updated behavioural characterization of the oestrus period in dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 87, 223–238.Google Scholar
Kramer, E, Stamer, E, Spilke, J, Thaller, J and Krieter, J 2009. Analysis of water intake and dry matter intake using different lactation curve models. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 4072–4081.Google Scholar
Kume, S, Nonaka, K, Oshita, T and Kozakai, T 2010. Evaluation of drinking water intake, feed water intake and total water intake in dry and lactating cows fed silages. Livestock Science 128, 46–51.Google Scholar
Lopez, H, Sattler, LD and Wiltbank, MC 2004. Relationship between level of milk production and estrous behaviour of lactating dairy cows. Animal Reproduction Science 81, 209–223.Google Scholar
López-Gatius, F 2003. Is fertility declining in dairy cattle? A retrospective study in northeastern Spain. Theriogenology 60, 89–99.Google Scholar
López-Gatius, F, Santolaria, P, Mundet, I and Yániz, JL 2005. Walking activity at estrus and subsequent fertility in dairy cows. Theriogenology 63, 1419–1429.Google Scholar
Lukas, JM, Reneau, JK and Linn, JG 2008. Water intake and dry matter intake changes as a feeding management tool and indicator of health and estrus status in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 3385–3394.Google Scholar
Lyimo, ZC, Nielen, M, Kruip, TAM and Van Eerdenburg, FJCM 2000. Relationship among estradiol, cortisol and intensity of estrous behavior in dairy cattle. Theriogenology 53, 1783–1795.Google Scholar
Maekawa, M, Beauchemin, KA and Christensen, A 2002. Effect of concentrate level and feeding management on chewing activities, saliva production, and ruminal pH of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 85, 1165–1175.Google Scholar
Maltz, E, Devir, S, Metz, JHM and Hogeveen, H 1997. The body weight of dairy cows. І. Introductory study into body weight changes in dairy cows as a management aid. Livestock Production Science 48, 175–186.Google Scholar
Meyer, U, Everinghoff, M, Gädeken, D and Flachowsky, G 2004. Investigations on the water intake of lactating dairy cows. Livestock Production Science 90, 117–121.Google Scholar
Mol, RMD, Ouweltjes, W, Kroeze, GH and Hendriks, MMWB 2001. Detection of estrus and mastitis: Field performance of a model. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 17, 399–407.Google Scholar
Mondal, M, Rajkhowa, C and Prakash, BS 2006. Relationship of plasma estradiol-17β, total estrogen, and progesterone to estrus behaviour in mithun (Bos frontalis) cows. Hormones and Behavior 49, 626–633.Google Scholar
Orihuela, A 2000. Some factors affecting the behavioural manifestation of oestrus in cattle: a review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 70, 1–16.Google Scholar
Phillips, CJC and Schofield, SA 1990. The effect of environment and stage of the oestrous cycle on the behaviour of dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 21–31.Google Scholar
Plaizier, JCB, King, GJ, Dekkers, JCM and Lissemore, K 1998. Modeling the relationship between reproductive performance and net-revenue in dairy herds. Agricultural Systems 56, 305–322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Redden, KD, Kennedy, AD, Ingalls, JR and Gilson, TL 1993. Detection of estrus by radiotelemetric monitoring of vaginal and ear skin temperature and pedometer measurements of activity. Journal of Dairy Science 76, 713–721.Google Scholar
Reith, S and Hoy, S 2011. Analysis of physical activity, rumination and body weight of dairy cattle during oestrus using sensor-aided systems. In EFITA/WCCA 2011 (ed. E Gelb and K Charvát), pp. 107–115. Czech Centre for Science and Society, Prague, Czech Republic.Google Scholar
Reith, S and Hoy, S 2012. Relationship between daily rumination time and estrus of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 95, 6416–6420.Google Scholar
Roelofs, J, Van Eerdenburg, FJCM, Soede, NM, Kemp, B 2005. Pedometer readings for estrous detection and as predictor for time of ovulation in dairy cattle. Theriogenology 64, 1690–1703.Google Scholar
Roelofs, J, López-Gatius, F, Hunter, RHF, Van Eerdenburg, FCCM and Hanzen, Ch 2010. When is a cow in estrus? Clinical and practical aspects. Theriogenology 74, 327–344.Google Scholar
Tamminga, S, Luteijn, PA and Meijer, RGM 1997. Changes in composition and energy content of liveweight loss in dairy cows with time after parturition. Livestock Production Science 52, 31–38.Google Scholar
Uphouse, L and Maswood, S 1998. Estrogen action, behavior. In Encyclopedia of Reproduction (ed. E Knobil and JD Neill), pp. 59–70. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA.Google Scholar
Van Eerdenburg, FJCM, Karthaus, D, Taverne, MAM, Merics, I and Szenci, O 2002. The relationship between estrous behavioral score and time of ovulation in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 85, 1150–1156.Google Scholar
Van Straten, M, Shpigel, NY and Friger, M 2008. Analysis of daily body weight of high producing dairy cows in the first one hundred twenty days of lactation and associations with ovarian inactivity. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 3353–3362.Google Scholar
Wiltbank, M, Lopez, H, Sartori, R, Sangsritavong, S and Gümen, A 2006. Changes in reproductive physiology of lactating dairy cows due to elevated metabolism. Theriogenology 65, 17–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yang, WZ and Beauchemin, KA 2006. Physically effective fiber: method of determination and effects on chewing, ruminal acidosis, and digestion by dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 2618–2633.Google Scholar
Yániz, JL, Santolaria, P, Giribet, A and López-Gatius, F 2006. Factors affecting walking activity at estrus during postpartum period and subsequent fertility in dairy cows. Theriogenology 66, 1934–1950.Google Scholar