Estrus detection in grazing beef cows using radiothermometry to measure vaginal temperature

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  • GOTO Yuji
    National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science:(Present Office)National Livestock Breeding Center Ohu Station
  • TAMAI Mitsunari
    National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science
  • SUZUKI Naruhiko
    National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science
  • IKEDA Tetsuya
    National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science

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Other Title
  • 腟内温度を用いた放牧地における肉用牛の発情発見
  • 膣内温度計を用いた放牧地における肉用牛の発情発見
  • チツナイ オンドケイ オ モチイタ ホウボクチ ニ オケル ニクヨウギュウ ノ ハツジョウ ハッケン

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate an estrus detection method of measuring vaginal temperatures using a radiothermometer inserted into the vagina of beef cows in pasturage. The method was compared with other methods of estrus detection: a pedometric system and visual observation of standing estrus. In four Japanese black cows with vaginally emplaced temperature^sensing radiotransmitters, vaginal temperatures were monitored at 5-min intervals using a Gyuonkei system (REMOTE). During 3 months of continuous vaginal temperature monitoring, telemetry system malfunctions caused about 88 hr (1.06 hr/day) of missed data per cow. During the examination period, 16 estruses were detected: the vaginal temperature decreased before estrus, rose on the day of estrus, and changed during the estrus cycle. For estrus detection, all vaginal temperature data were simulated according to each condition based on the vaginal temperature of a baseline (average of days) by a defined temperature amount for a defined minimum duration. The estrus detection rate, accuracy, and the overall estrus detection accuracy were calculated to determine the optimal criteria and the estrus-predictive capability. Optimal detection of estrus was considered to occur when the estrus detection overall accuracy was greatest. The optimal condition criterion was an increase by 0.4℃ above a 3 day baseline for four or more consecutive hours. Comparison of estrus detection methods showed that estrus detection rates were not different among the three groups (measuring vaginal temperature, pedometric system, visual observation of standing estrus), but vaginal temperature measurement and visual observation provided significantly more accurate estrus detection overall than the pedometric system did. In conclusion, results show that radiothermometric measurement of vaginal temperature can provide accurate detection of estous beef cows in pasturage.

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