Study showed that before coming into heat (or estrus) cows consume between 25% and 35% less water and food. Discovery opens the path for electronic systems that identify females that are ready to reproduce with precision and hours in advance. Method is much more precise than the conventional estrus detection: animal observation.. The accuracy of the new system would avoid estrus loss, one of the main causes for the decrease of reproduction efficiency. 90% of the factors for current low detection rates can be attributed to management and only 10% are attributed to cows. Misidentification can lead to higher disposal rates of cows and heifers. Sensors that collect data on cows’ consumption are able to detect the estrus of each animal hours ahead. The possibility emerged from a discovery of research carried out at Embrapa Dairy Cattle (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil), led by the candidate for a master’s degree in Zootechnics Frederico Correia Cairo, from the State University of Southwestern Bahia (UESB). The studies were made in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Wisc) in the United States, and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). The results showed that the variation in consumption and behavior of water and food ingestion of a dairy cow is able to reveal if the animal will come into estrus up to six hours in advance, and it ensures higher precision in comparison with visual observation at the farm. “Sensors in electronic troughs and drinking fountains allow the identification of variations in food and water consumption caused by the expression of estrus (heat) in dairy cows," says the Embrapa researcher Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira, who advised the research. The change in cows' food behavior when they are close to estrus was the basis for the development of computer models in the laboratory of professor João Dórea, from the University of Wisconsin. According to him, such models will enable the production of sensors for precise and accurate identification of estrus in dairy farms. For Mariana Magalhães Campos, co-supervisor of the study and also an Embrapa researcher, fast and accurate detection of estrus is essential for reproduction planning in the farm. "Precision livestock farming has evolved a lot in this aspect and the study confirms the possibility to include the functionality 'estrus detection (heat)' in electronic troughs and drinking fountains," the scientist states. Now a Master in Zootechnics, Cairo says that the study opens up the possibility of the development of new devices and sensors that enable to identify the variations of water and food behaviors caused by estrus. "Electronic troughs and drinking fountains that generate data automatically still do not have the feature of generating estrus alerts," he reports. According to him, this functionality would be important to improve reproduction management in the farm and avoid estrus loss. Cows consume less in heat It was already known that estrus expression causes a reduction in food consumption and behavior. The research carried out at Embrapa’s experimental field in Coronel Pacheco (MG, Brazil) assessed how such changes happen in the animal's behavior, in addition to developing and assessing models to detect estrus in advance. To this end, food and water consumption were assessed in two essays using Holstein x Gir heifers. Visual observation was done three times per day for 30 minutes (7 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m.) while the food and water behavior of cows was obtained through an electronic system of troughs and drinking fountains. During the research 99 estrus events were observed. Two time series of seven days were collected: one representing seven days including the estrus day and the other seven days without estrus events. Aiming at developing models that are able to detect estrus hours ahead, the time series were fractionated in intervals of six hours each. Mariana Campos explains that for each six hour interval the total food consumption, the number of trough and drinking fountain visits, and the time spent in the consumption of food and water were computed. "All the variables show a significant decrease in estrus day in comparison with previous days and the anestrus series: a reduction between 25% and 35%," the researcher reveals. Precision cattle farming There are different strategies to identify estrus in the animals of the herd. Visual observation is the most common. The farmers can adopt a ruffian, who will ride the cow in heat. Even another female can ride the cow, showing that insemination can be performed. However this strategy can fail by mistake or carelessness of the observer, as Pereira explains: "The increase in the number of animals and yield, as well as staff reduction are changes that are taking place in milk production systems in the country and it is necessary to adopt more accurate strategies that involve precision livestock farming," the scientist defends. He remarks that estrus identification is one of the main factors responsible for the reproduction efficiency and that a bad reproduction development can cause a higher disposal rate of cows and troughs. "But sometimes the problem does not concern the animal, but indeed the observer, as only a few cows can be described as infertile." Data point out that around 90% of the causes for low detection rates can be attributed to the management and only 10% to cows. Good reproduction management of the herd means increasing production and profitability of the activity. "In order to increase the efficiency of estrus detection, automatic monitoring of dairy herds behavior has been gaining importance in recent years," the author of the dissertation remembers. Cairo argues that visual observation reaches detection levels that can vary from 50% to 90%. However, constant monitoring of the herd's reproduction activity cannot always be performed due to properties' routine. "Other studies involving the assessment of the variations that happen due to estrus are necessary to develop algorithms, which will make the sensors work, to identify behavior changes related to estrus that work as a basis to trigger alerts for decision making," he concludes.
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Study showed that before coming into heat (or estrus) cows consume between 25% and 35% less water and food. -
Discovery opens the path for electronic systems that identify females that are ready to reproduce with precision and hours in advance. -
Method is much more precise than the conventional estrus detection: animal observation.. -
The accuracy of the new system would avoid estrus loss, one of the main causes for the decrease of reproduction efficiency. -
90% of the factors for current low detection rates can be attributed to management and only 10% are attributed to cows. -
Misidentification can lead to higher disposal rates of cows and heifers. |
Sensors that collect data on cows’ consumption are able to detect the estrus of each animal hours ahead. The possibility emerged from a discovery of research carried out at Embrapa Dairy Cattle (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil), led by the candidate for a master’s degree in Zootechnics Frederico Correia Cairo, from the State University of Southwestern Bahia (UESB). The studies were made in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Wisc) in the United States, and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).
The results showed that the variation in consumption and behavior of water and food ingestion of a dairy cow is able to reveal if the animal will come into estrus up to six hours in advance, and it ensures higher precision in comparison with visual observation at the farm.
“Sensors in electronic troughs and drinking fountains allow the identification of variations in food and water consumption caused by the expression of estrus (heat) in dairy cows," says the Embrapa researcher Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira, who advised the research. The change in cows' food behavior when they are close to estrus was the basis for the development of computer models in the laboratory of professor João Dórea, from the University of Wisconsin. According to him, such models will enable the production of sensors for precise and accurate identification of estrus in dairy farms.
For Mariana Magalhães Campos, co-supervisor of the study and also an Embrapa researcher, fast and accurate detection of estrus is essential for reproduction planning in the farm. "Precision livestock farming has evolved a lot in this aspect and the study confirms the possibility to include the functionality 'estrus detection (heat)' in electronic troughs and drinking fountains," the scientist states.
Now a Master in Zootechnics, Cairo says that the study opens up the possibility of the development of new devices and sensors that enable to identify the variations of water and food behaviors caused by estrus. "Electronic troughs and drinking fountains that generate data automatically still do not have the feature of generating estrus alerts," he reports. According to him, this functionality would be important to improve reproduction management in the farm and avoid estrus loss.
Cows consume less in heat
It was already known that estrus expression causes a reduction in food consumption and behavior. The research carried out at Embrapa’s experimental field in Coronel Pacheco (MG, Brazil) assessed how such changes happen in the animal's behavior, in addition to developing and assessing models to detect estrus in advance. To this end, food and water consumption were assessed in two essays using Holstein x Gir heifers. Visual observation was done three times per day for 30 minutes (7 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m.) while the food and water behavior of cows was obtained through an electronic system of troughs and drinking fountains. During the research 99 estrus events were observed. Two time series of seven days were collected: one representing seven days including the estrus day and the other seven days without estrus events.
Aiming at developing models that are able to detect estrus hours ahead, the time series were fractionated in intervals of six hours each. Mariana Campos explains that for each six hour interval the total food consumption, the number of trough and drinking fountain visits, and the time spent in the consumption of food and water were computed. "All the variables show a significant decrease in estrus day in comparison with previous days and the anestrus series: a reduction between 25% and 35%," the researcher reveals.
Precision cattle farming
There are different strategies to identify estrus in the animals of the herd. Visual observation is the most common. The farmers can adopt a ruffian, who will ride the cow in heat. Even another female can ride the cow, showing that insemination can be performed. However this strategy can fail by mistake or carelessness of the observer, as Pereira explains: "The increase in the number of animals and yield, as well as staff reduction are changes that are taking place in milk production systems in the country and it is necessary to adopt more accurate strategies that involve precision livestock farming," the scientist defends.
He remarks that estrus identification is one of the main factors responsible for the reproduction efficiency and that a bad reproduction development can cause a higher disposal rate of cows and troughs. "But sometimes the problem does not concern the animal, but indeed the observer, as only a few cows can be described as infertile." Data point out that around 90% of the causes for low detection rates can be attributed to the management and only 10% to cows.
Good reproduction management of the herd means increasing production and profitability of the activity. "In order to increase the efficiency of estrus detection, automatic monitoring of dairy herds behavior has been gaining importance in recent years," the author of the dissertation remembers. Cairo argues that visual observation reaches detection levels that can vary from 50% to 90%. However, constant monitoring of the herd's reproduction activity cannot always be performed due to properties' routine. "Other studies involving the assessment of the variations that happen due to estrus are necessary to develop algorithms, which will make the sensors work, to identify behavior changes related to estrus that work as a basis to trigger alerts for decision making," he concludes.
