Altered vocalization rate during the estrous cycle in dairy cattle

Correct detection of estrus is a problem in dairy herds. In practice, several procedures exist for detection of estrus besides conventional visual observation by humans. These procedures deliver very different results regarding detection of estrus. It is known that the calls of female mammals can contain information about reproductive status. It is also suspected that the vocalizations of cattle contain information about age, sex, dominance status, and stage in the estrous cycle. In the present study, a methodology for the continuous automatic recording of vocalization of heifers during the periestrous period is presented. It was shown in 10 tethered heifers that the estrous climax results in an increase in vocalization rate. Vocalization rate of heifers increased approximately 84% from d -2 to 0 (related to observed estrus) and approximately 59% from d -1 to d 0. After d 0, vocalization rate decreased about 79%. Increased vocalization was correlated with the visual observation of estrus by humans. We also found 2 different structures in the vocalization of heifers. The harmonic structure showed regular frequency bands, whereas the nonharmonic structure was noisy. The hypothesis that the disharmonic structure increases near the estrous climax was confirmed. Hence, it seems possible to get information about stage of the estrous cycle of dairy cattle by means of monitoring vocalization. The presented method of automatically detecting the rate of cattle vocalization (patent pending) could be used solely or in combination with other automated systems for detecting estrus and could considerably increase current estrus detection rates once its applicability can be demonstrated in nontethered cattle.