Sexual activity of Holstein cows: seasonal effects

Continuous observations of Holstein dairy cows during natural and prostaglandin-induced estrus were conducted to determine effects of cold and hot weather on the degree and pattern of sexual activities, circadian profile of activities, and location of activities. Mounts with pelvic thrusts and mounts plus 12 other estrous-related activities for 73 cows were monitored for 96 h in cold weather and 120 h in hot weather. Eleven cows in hot weather with more than one mount were in estrus longer with less intensity of mounting than 16 cows in cold weather; climate did not affect mounts received or total activities initiated per cow. Number of cows in standing estrus affected mounts received per cow, total activities received per cow, and time in estrus but not activities initiated per animal. Two estrual cows in cold weather and 6 cows in hot weather received less than 2 mounts. Cows in cold weather had more (28%) total estrous activity as mounting activity than cows in hot weather (14%); cows in hot weather interacted more by rubbing and licking than cows in cold weather. Cows in cold weather had more mounting activity from 0600 to 1759 h (73%) than from 1800 to 0559 h (27%) and had more mounts from 1200 to 1759 h than cows in hot weather. During both cold and hot weather, sexual activities decreased at milking time. In the freestall housing with drylot, 80% of the mounting activity in both climates occurred in an outdoor drylot and feed manger area, which had best footing. These data indicate that climate affected mounting and total sexual activity of lactating dairy cows.