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novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

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<strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> oestrous <strong>detection</strong> rate can result <strong>in</strong> ga<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> 0.81 pence per<br />

litre <strong>in</strong> the average (6000 litre) cow (DairyCo, 2009). Therefore<br />

improvements <strong>in</strong> oestrous <strong>detection</strong> rate, which could be realised us<strong>in</strong>g<br />

UWB, will yield greater pr<strong>of</strong>it especially <strong>in</strong> higher yield<strong>in</strong>g herds.<br />

Therefore oestrous <strong>detection</strong> is <strong>of</strong> major importance <strong>to</strong> maximis<strong>in</strong>g yields<br />

<strong>and</strong> productivity <strong>and</strong> contribut<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> the economic susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>and</strong><br />

reduced environmental impact <strong>of</strong> the <strong>dairy</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry. Conception rate is only<br />

40% (Royal et al., 2000a), comb<strong>in</strong>ed with 50% oestrous <strong>detection</strong><br />

(DairyCo, 2009), mean<strong>in</strong>g only 20% <strong>of</strong> all ovulations result <strong>in</strong> pregnancy.<br />

Therefore strategies <strong>to</strong> improve the oestrous <strong>detection</strong> rate can help <strong>to</strong><br />

arrest the decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> <strong>dairy</strong> cow fertility.<br />

6.2 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS<br />

This work <strong>in</strong> this thesis has highlighted that several fac<strong>to</strong>rs can affect the<br />

activity <strong>in</strong>crease at <strong>oestrus</strong>:<br />

i. Parity (P

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