Changes in rumen temperature, vaginal temperature and drinking behaviour throughout the estrous cycle in tie-stalled dairy cattle

Abstract

The relationship between vaginal temperature, rumen temperature and drinking behaviour throughout the estrous cycle was studied in tie-stalled dairy cattle. In experiment 1, 4 first calf Holstein dairy heifers (71 to 161 d postpartum) were monitored for a continuous 3 month period. The heifers were synchronized using a program called Ovsynch. The heifers were synchronized for estrous cycles 1 and 3, while estrous cycle 2 was not synchronized. Milk progesterone analysis indicated 13 periods of low progesterone indicative of CL regression in experiment 1, of which vaginal temperature data (VagT) was available for 8 periods and rumen temperature (RumT) was available for 7 periods. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)