• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.263-267
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• 2023

Background: Estrus in cows can be detected through vaginal electrical resistance or conductivity. However, there are no studies measuring vaginal electrical resistance in Hanwoo cows. This study aims to measure the vaginal electrical resistance value in Hanwoo cows and compare it with estrus and ovulation. Methods: Vaginal electrical resistance values of 73 Hanwoo cows were measured before and after estrus at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Livestock Research Institute. Measurements were taken on days -6, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 6 of artificial insemination. Large follicles and ovulation were confirmed using transvaginal ultrasonography. Results: The vaginal electrical resistance averaged 225.6 ± 6.3 Ω days before the artificial insemination date, decreasing until the day of artificial insemination. The average vaginal electrical resistance was 163.7 ± 4.6 Ω on the date of artificial insemination, and 188.8 ± 4.3 Ω one day after artificial insemination, when large follicles were observed. In addition, on the 6th day after artificial insemination, the vaginal electrical resistance averaged 231.4 ± 5.5, which was similar to the 6th day before artificial insemination (222.5 ± 6.3). Transvaginal ultrasonography showed that most of the cows ovulated one day after artificial insemination. Conclusions: The accuracy of estrus is high if the vaginal electrical resistance is measured for cows with confirmed estrus, making is a potentially useful for determining the timing of artificial insemination.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.120-125
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• 1984

The study was carried out to find out the changes of hormone levels in blood serum and milk of Holstein cows during the estrous cycle. The progesterone, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ from the blood serum and milk samples were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods. The results of this study were summarized as follows; 1. The progesterone levels in blood serum during the estrous cycles began to decline rapidly at 2 days before estrus, decreased to $0.27{\pm}0.18ng/ml$ at on the day of estrus, and reached a peak mean level of $3.33{\pm}0.47ng/ml$ at 15 days after estrus. 2. The progesterone levels in milk during the estrous cycles began to decline rapidly at 2 days before estrus, decreased to $0.80{\pm}0.18ng/ml$ on the day of estrus, and increased a peak mean level of $3.80{\pm}0.36ng/ml$ at 15 days after estrus. 3. The estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels in blood serum during the estrous cycles showed a peak mean level of $9.79{\pm}1.72pg/ml$ on the day of estrus, and decreased from $4.79{\pm}1.82pg/ml$ to $5.73{\pm}0.96pg/ml$ at luteal phase. 4. The estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels in milk during the estrous cycles showed a peak mean level of $36.80{\pm}2.04pg/ml$ on the day of estrus, and decreased from $18.93{\pm}0.84pg/ml$ to $19.50{\pm}1.12pg/ml$ at luteal phase. 5. During 20 to 25 days after artificial insemination, the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis from the blood serum progesterone levels were 87.5% for non pregnant cows (<2.0ng/ml), and 83.3% for pregnant cows ($${\geq_-}$$3.0 ng/ml). The accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis from the milk progesterone levels were 75.0% for non-pregnant cows (<2.4 ng/ml), and 94.4% for pregnant cows ($${\geq_-}$$3.2 ng/ml).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between conception rate and other parameters (body condition score; BCS, progesterone concentrations and follicle size) before estrus induction with $PGF_2{\alpha}$. The conception rate in cows with (2.75, 2.75 to 3.25 and 3.25), BCS regardless of AI (artificial insemination) time was 47.5, 67.5% and 48.5% at $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection, respectively. The conception rate regardless of BCS was 59.0% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 46.2% in cows inseminated at 72 to 80 hours (timed artificial insemination, TAI) after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 43.0% in cows with low progesterone concentrations (less than 1.0 ng/ml), and 67.5% in cows with high progesterone concentrations (more than 1.0 ng/ml) at $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The conception rate regardless of progesterone concentrations was 59.9% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 48.1% in cows of TAI after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 36.0% in cows with small dominant follicles (less than 5 mm), 56.0% in cows between 5 mm to 10 mm of follicle size, and 65.5% in cows with large dominant follicles (more than 10 mm) at $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection, respectively. The conception rate regardless of follicle size was 57.3% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 47.6% in cows of TAI after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. These results indicated that if the cows with BCS 2.75 to 3.25, active corpus luteum, and/or large dominant follicle (more than 10 mm) are used for estrus induction, the conception rate will be greater.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2012

This study was carried out to develop the useful inducing method of estrus for Korean native cows. Under the condition of estrus induction by administering $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ for the cows in which corpus luteum (CL) in ovaries was detected by ultrasonography, ovarian responses and the changes of progesterone ($P_4$) concentration against $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ compared with conception rate were observed in cows and heifers. In inducing estrus administering $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. to the cows which has corpus luteum in ovaries, ovarian reponses, the changes of progesterone concentration, and conception rate were identified and compared. The results attained from the studies were as follows. Significant decreases of CL in size over time after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ administration were detected in both cow and heifer groups (p<0.001), but not different between groups in the CL regression rate (p>0.05). In addition, the percentage changes relative to the plasma $P_4$ concentration on day 1 after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were decreased to below 1ng/ml. The growth rate of follicle was observed as 31% on day 1 and 42% on day 2 in cows, and 34% on day 1 and 97% on day 2 in heifers, resulting that growth of heifers are faster than that of cows (p<0.05). The conception rate after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were 60.5% and 64.2% in cows and heifers, respectively. It also indicated that the conception rate after estrus observation with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection was as high as 66.6% while that with timed-artificial insemination (TAI) regardless of the estrus observation was 56%, which means the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination after estrus observation was higher than that of TAI (p<0.05). In the result of all above, there were significant decreases in CL size and the plasma $P_4$ concentration by days but rapid growth in follicles, which has no differences in cows and heifers. The conception rate was commonly high after estrus observation and more than 50% under TAI.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.72-85
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• 1983

This presentation firstly is discussed the characteristics of estrus, the time of first postpartum estrus, and the relative accurate of various estrus detection aids and secondly discussed the abnormalities of estrus and ovarian function and its control by treatment of exogenous hormones in cattle and pig. Longer estrus cycles as well as the shorter than 18 day cycles showed the lowered conception rates as compared to the normal cycles of 18 to 25 days. Other characteristics of est겨s such as duration of estrus, intensity of estrus and time of estrus are reviewed to affect fertility. The first postpartum ovulation and estrus in cows usually occurs about 20 to 30 days and 40 to 50 days after parturition, respectively. Irregularities in estrus cycle length have been conducted during early postpartum period. In sows, weaning is followed by ovulation and estrus although there is some individual variation. The most common method of estrus detection is direct visual observation on standing estrus behavior, but various aids of estrus detection have been empolyed with varying degree of effectiveness. The results from heat detector devices are about as accurate as twice-daily observation(about 90%). The abnormal estrus can be classified into three types; irregular or continuous estrus, silent estrus and anestrus. Cystic ovarian disease, follicular cysts and luteal cysts, is a serious cause of reproductive failure in cattle and pig. The follicular cysts are much more common than luteal cysts and the incidence of ovarian cysts in dairy cattle is higher than beef cattle and pig. The occurrences of ovarian cysts have been closely associated with levels of milk production, stages of postpartum period, nutritional levels and seasons. The luteal cysts and persistent corpora lutea are responsive to the luteolytic effects of the recently synthetic analogues of PGF2$\alpha$ in cows and sows and recently GnRH or LH-RH has been successfully used as a treatment for cows and sows with ovarian follicular cysts.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to analyze the accuracy of estrus detection of heat detector and analysis of estrus behavior (mounting and mounted), and the evaluation of conditions required for improving reproductive efficiency in Holstein dairy cows fitted with a estrous detector. The heat detection system consists of estrous detector based on wireless sensor and an electric bulletin board displayed estrus behavior data. When cow mounting other cows, the accuracy of estrus behavior displayed an electric bulletin board were 87.5% (mounting other cows only), 100% (mounting other cows but not standing), 80.0% (mounting other cows with standing for 1~4 seconds), 90.0% (mounting other cows but not standing for 1~4 seconds), 80% (mounting other cows with standing for more than 5 seconds) and 90.0% (mounting other cows but not standing for more than 5 seconds). When cow mounted other cows, the accuracy of estrus behavior displayed an electric bulletin board were 100% (mounted other cows but not standing), 100% (mounted other cows with standing for 1~4 seconds), 100% (mounted other cows but not standing for 1~4 seconds) and 100% (mounted other cows with standing for more than 5 seconds). Circadian distribution of first observed in estrus were 59.1% (am 8~pm 6) and 40.9% (pm 6~am 8). Distribution for the number of estrus behavior were 40.9% (less than 3 times), 36.4% (4~6 times) and 22.7% (more than 4 times). The conception rates relative to interval from first estrus behavior to insemination for estrus periods were 23.1% (less than 11 hours) and 55.6% (12~20 hours).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1989

Total thirty of flushing were attempted on day 4 to 15 of estrus cycle with S heifers and 9 cows by nonsurgical method. The flushed or recovered rate among flushings was 86.7% (26/30) or 88.5% (23/26), respectively. There was no difference in the recovered rate between heifers (85.7%,6/7) and cows (89.5%, 17119). The embryo was recovered on day 4 to 15 of estrus cycle from the donors in natural heat without any technical difficulties.The I2FG Foley catheter used for pubertal heifers had sometimes plug in it with uterine mucus during flushing of uterine horn. But the problem could be overcomed by pumping the catherter with fluthing solution or by changing the catheter. Three normal embryos were recovered from 3 pubertal (10-11 month old) heifers. The rate of normal and abnormal eggs was 60.9% (14123) and 39.1% (9/23), respectively. The abnormal eggs were on degenerating except one unfertilized egg and were mostly recovered from heifers or cows flushed consecutively during the estrus cycle. The developmental states of normal embryos were l6-cells on day 5, 32-cells on day 6, compacted-morula on day 7, early-to expanded-blastocyst on day 8-to 9, and hatching-to hatched-blastocyst on day 10 to 11 of estrus cycle. The stage of embryos on day 8 to 10 showed varities among donors. On day 8 to 9 of estrus cycle hatching-blas tocyst was recovered from some donors.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.384-388
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• 2003

To establish the method of estrus induction using the injection of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ㆍ the 60 dairy cows treated by PGF$_2$$\alpha$ㆍ at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 day of estrous cycle, recpectively. The plasma progesterone concentrations at day of injection of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ㆍ were $1.5\pm$1.3 (mean$\pm$SD) ng/ml at 6 days of estrous cycle, 3.7$\pm$1.4 ng/ml at 8 days, 6.5$\pm$1.8 ng/ml at 10 days, 7.9$\pm$2.0 ng/ml at 12 days, 6.5$\pm$2.5 ng/ml at 14 days, and 2.5$\pm$1.2 ng/m] at 16 days, respectively. The percentages of induction of estrus after PGF$_2$$\alpha$ㆍ treatment were 52.8% at 3th day after treatment, 21.7% at 4th day, 8.3% within 2th day, and ] 7.2% after 5th day, respectively. The percentages of cows conceived at first service after induction of estrus were 73.3% on 16 days of estrous cycle at treatment, 66.7% on 10 and 14 days, 63.3% on 8 and 12 days, and 53.3% on 6 day, respectively. The percentages of cows conceived on first service were 70.5% at 3th day after induction, 66.7% at 4th day and 65% at 5th day, respectively. These results suggest that the PGF$_2$$\alpha$ㆍ treatment at regressing stage of corpus luteum showed high induction of estrus and pregnancy rate, and there were high induction of estrus and pregnancy rate at 3th and 4th day after PGF$_2$$\alpha$ㆍ treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.6236-6246
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• 2015

In the paper, we reduce non-pregnant conditions and improve impregnation rate by unmanned estrus detection and decide proper time for artificial insemination. It is too hard to detect estrus only by using activities, we develop unmanned estrus detection system that consist of RF activity sensors, cow management program and estrus detection algorithm that uses information of activities and breeding. We verify performance by experiments in four similar scale stockbreeding farmhouse. Each stockbreeding farmhouse breeds 87, 81, 93, 82 cows and expected estrus cows are 14, 19, 15, 17. In expected estrus cow, we fail in weak estrus detection - 3, 2, 1, 3 cows, but detect successfully normal estrus - 11, 17, 14, 14 cows. After artificial insemination, 10, 17, 13, 14 cows became pregnant successfully confirming that proposed unmanned estrus detection system is effective for deciding proper time for artificial insemination in normal estrus.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.215-224
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• 2023

Background: Reproductive management practices play crucial roles to maximize the reproductive performance of cows, and thus contribute to farm profitability. We aimed to assess the reproductive management of cows currently practiced in the dairy farms in an urban farming system. Methods: A total of 62 dairy farms were randomly selected considering all size of farms such as small (1-5 cattle), medium (6-20 cattle) and large farms (> 20 cattle) from selected areas of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. The reproductive management-related parameters viz. estrus detection, breeding method, pregnancy diagnosis, dry cow and parturition management, vaccination and treatment of reproductive problems etc. were obtained in a pre-defined questionnaire during the farm visit. Results: The visual observation method was only used (100.0%; 62/62) for estrus detection irrespective of size of the farms; while farmers observed cows for estrus 4-5 times a day, but only for 20-60 seconds each time. Regardless of farm size, 89.0% (55/62) farms used artificial insemination (AI) for breeding the cows. Intriguingly, all farms (100.0%) routinely checked the cows for pregnancy at 35-40 days post-breeding using rectal palpation technique by registered veterinarian. However, only 6.5% (4/62) farms practiced dry cow management. Notably, all farms (100.0%) provided nutritional supplements (Vit D, Ca and P) during late gestation. However, proper hygiene and cleanliness during parturition was not practiced in 77.4% (48/62) farms; even though 96.7% (60/62) farms treated cows by registered veterinarian for parturition-related problems. Conclusions: While farmers used AI service for breeding and timely check their cows for pregnancy; however, they need to increase observation time (30 minutes/ observation, twice in a day: early morning and early night) for estrus detection, consider dry cow management and ensure hygienic parturition for maximizing production.