Importance of Mounting Behavior for Estrus Detection in Dairy Cattle
Abhishek Nagar1, Pooja Singh2, Amit Kumar Singh3*
1TGT group of social ventures, Rasoolpur, Lucknow
2Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kallipur, Varanasi
3Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Amihit, Jaunpur
*Corresponding author email: amitkumarsingh5496@gmail.com
Abstract
These days, oestrus detection with accuracy is an important management strategy of an organized dairy farm. Mounting behaviour is one of the promising behaviour expressed during oestrus period in dairy cows. Mounting activities of dairy cattle are often not taken care in a planned manner. Efficient detection of estrus is an ongoing- continuous challenge for successful reproductive and hence for the overall performance of dairy cattle. Comprehensive knowledge of estrus-related behaviors may help to achieve optimal estrus detection rates. Focus on secondary symptoms of estrus such as mounting, activity, aggressive and agonistic behaviors should be made to enhance oestrus detection rate. Mounting behaviour seems more indicative than standing behavior for a cow which is likely to come in next few hours. Standing to be mounted already signifies the period in which cows are advised to be inseminated to breed. This article aims to throw light upon the management strategies which may optimize detection of mounting for better oestrus detection in dairy cows.
Specific time period for oestrus and its behavioural symptoms in dairy cows (Perry, 2004)
Before 6- 10 hrs of oestrus
The cow will not be standing to be mounted however there may be increased vocal frequencies; restlessness followed by moist and slightly swollen vulva case may be there. In this period cows may smell other cows and try to mount on them as well.
Standing to be mounted
This period varies from 6 to 24 hours with an average duration of 12.9 hours (Sveberg et al., 2013) in dairy cows however this time period depends upon breed characters, body size, parity and body condition of dairy cows. This period is remarked with clear discharge of mucous and cow allows to be mounted by other cows.
Sexually active groups
One typical characteristic of cows during standing to be mounted period is that they will try to find other oestrus cows in the same herd and will form a sexually active group and start mounting each other. They may make physical contact by butting, chin resting on other fellow mates.
After 10 hrs of standing oestrus
The cows which were in standing oestrus, they will not allow others to mount on themselves however there may be clear mucous discharge from the vulva.
After 1- 3 days of standing oestrus
No standing to be mounted activities is seen but there will be bloody discharge from the genital region of the dairy cows.
Mounting or attempting to mount other cows has a high frequency during estrus compared with other days (Kerbrat and Disenhaus, 2004).
Scoring scales for oestrus symptoms (Van Eerdenburg et al., 2000)
| Oestrus symptoms | Score |
| Flehmen | 3 |
| Mucous discharge from vulva | 3 |
| Cow restlessness | 5 |
| Sniffing of vulva of other cow | 10 |
| Mounting but not standing | 10 |
| Resting chin on back of other cows | 15 |
| Mounting or attempting to mount other | 35 |
| Standing oestrus | 100 |
Evaluation of oestrus activities in dairy cows may be done by particular method however there accuracy may be low but, combination of different methods such as activity meters (Pedometers, radiotelemetry), visual observations, and mounting activity monitoring with accuracy of 75 to 90% (Reith and Roy, 2018).
Visual observations can be taken by using tail paints over the tail head regions of suspected cows for oestrus on the other hand pedometers are attached to legs to monitor the activity of cows and radiotelemetrs are attached to the tail head regions to provide related signals of mounting.
Factors affecting mounting behaviour of dairy cows
There are several factors which affect the mounting behaviour of dairy cows. The list of factors is as follows:
- Environmental conditions
- Level of production of dairy cows
- Management conditions
- Biostimulation
Environmental conditions
From table (1) it becomes more clear that more 75% of standing oestrus is expressed during cooler parts of the day so one should focus more on such periods for proper oestrus signs.
Table 1: Specific periods of days in which standing to be mounting behaviour is seen
| Time of day | % of cows expressing standing oestrus |
| 6 Am to 12 Noon | 26 |
| 12 Noon to 6 Pm | 18.1 |
| 6 Pm to Midnight | 26.9 |
| Midnight to 6 Am | 29 |
Source: (Reith and Hoy, 2018)
In an experiment it was found that the expression of mounting activity was not suppressed as long as the maximum environmental temperature on the estrous day remained within the cows’ thermo-neutral zone. It was seen that beyond 30°C temperature there was a negative impact the number of mounts in dairy cows (Gwazdauskas et al., 1983). There may be a reduction in LH secretion which may lead to suppressed synthesis of follicular steroids thereby reducing plasma estradiol concentrations and finally cause to impaired detection of estrus (De Rensis and Scaramuzzi, 2003).
Level of production of dairy cows
Estrous activity was least for heifers and increased for older cows. Mean number of mounting with mounting time was found lowest in heifer (5.5 mounts/h) and highest in 4th lactation cows (7.9 mounts/h) (Lopez et al., 2004). Milk yield has been found to be negatively correlated with duration and hence activity of oestrus (Lopez et al., 2004).
Management conditions
Hard floors in comparison to softer and gripping floors were found to promote more mounting oestrus behavior under housed conditions. Furthermore, pasture based dairy cows showed better mounting behaviours as compared to that in the case of barn housing. Mounting activity was markedly inhibited by slippery floors, especially in cows that previously sustained a fall when attempting to mount another cow during estrus (Palmer et al., 2010).
Number of mounts per cow and the length of mounting were found significantly higher in ground than on concrete floor (13.8 v. 9.4 h). Number of mounts per cow and the length of mounting were significantly higher in ground on concrete floor (Britt et al., 1986).
Biostimulation
Biostimulation may be defined as presence of opposite gender animals of same breed in the herd of same breed which may enhance sexuall activities in the herd in which it is used. When a male is used in herd of female, the effect so produced is called male and vice versa is called female effect. It was first observed in case of sheep but it is well useful in dairy animals.
In an experiment it was revealed that direct exposure of bulls may enhance the sexuall behaviour of females followed fenceline bull exposure which was suggested to be a very effective method for oestrus activities as mounting behaviour of dairy cows (Sanjay and Kamboj, 2019).
Conclusions
In conclusion it can be stated that the detection of oestrus is a permanent challenge for optimum reproductive and finally for overall performance of dairy cows. Factors which affect the mounting and other oestrus activities should be considered while housing for dairy animals. Biostimulation may be beneficial in large herds to detect oestrus behaviour of dairy cows as well.
