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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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2.4 DISCUSSION<br />

The objective <strong>of</strong> this study was <strong>to</strong> identify fac<strong>to</strong>rs associated with the<br />

activity <strong>in</strong>crease at <strong>oestrus</strong>. Activity <strong>in</strong>creases at the time <strong>of</strong> <strong>oestrus</strong><br />

between 2 <strong>and</strong> 4 fold (Kiddy, 1977). In this study the <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> activity<br />

were reported expressed as maximum activity at <strong>oestrus</strong> <strong>and</strong> the<br />

percentage <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> activity from basel<strong>in</strong>e. There was a moderate<br />

positive correlation between percentage <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>and</strong> maximum activity.<br />

This could be expla<strong>in</strong>ed because some <strong>cows</strong> may have a high average<br />

basel<strong>in</strong>e activity but a small maximum activity <strong>and</strong> thus their oestrous<br />

<strong>expression</strong> is decreased, or vice versa where <strong>cows</strong> are generally <strong>in</strong>active<br />

yet at <strong>oestrus</strong> become very active. Several cow fac<strong>to</strong>rs were found <strong>to</strong> have<br />

a significant effect on maximum activity at <strong>oestrus</strong>; parity, oestrous<br />

number, time <strong>of</strong> year <strong>and</strong> milk yield (P

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