1
The Estrous Cycle in
Cattle
Khondoker Moazzem Hossain, PhD
Professor
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline
Khulna University
Overview
• Estrous cycle
• Synchronization and benefits
• Selecting hefers
– RTS
– Conditioning
• Products and prices
• Summation
2
Estrous Cycle
Length of the estrous cycle
Average 21 days (range 18 to 24 days)
Estrus (standing heat)
12 to 18 hours (range 8 to 30 hours)
Ovulation
Approximately 30 hours after the beginning of
standing heat (or 12 to 18 hours after the end
of
standing heat)
3
Estrous Cycle
Major structures on the ovary
Follicle: a blister-like structure containing the
egg (referred to as oocyte); produces hormone
“estrogen”
High amount of estrogen causes “standing heat” and
“ovulation”
Corpus luteum (referred to as “CL”): looks like a
hard yellow structure and produces hormone
“progesterone” that is responsible for
maintenance of pregnancy
Follicle Development 4
Follicular Wave
Dominan Regressi
ce on
Growt
h
Selectio
n Next
Recruitme Recruitme
nt nt
Follicle development occurs as a wave-like pattern
consisting of
“Recruitment”, “Selection”, “Growth”, “Dominance”, and
“Regression” phases
Usually 2 to 4 follicular waves occur during the estrous
cycle in
Follicle Development 5
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Regressi
on
Next
Recruitme Recruitme
nt nt
FSH FSH
FSH precedes recruitment of follicles (causes follicles to
start
growing)
FSH is the same hormone used for superovulation and
embryo
Follicle Development 6
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Regressi
Dominan
on
ce
Growt
h
Selectio
n
LH pulses
LH promotes further follicle growth and maturation of egg
Follicle Development and Ovulation 7
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Estrogen
Dominan Ovulatio
ce n
Growt Estroge
h n
Selectio Estrus
n
LH
Surge
LH stimulates follicle growth and a growing follicle
produces
high levels of estrogen
High levels of estrogen, in turn, cause estrus and surge
release
Follicle Development During the Estrous
8
Cycle
Example for 3 Follicular Waves
Ovulatio Ovulatio
n n
Estrus
Estrus
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Length of the estrous cycle in cattle with 3 follicular waves
is
typically 20 to 24 days
Follicle Development During the Estrous
9
Cycle
Example for 2 Follicular Waves
Ovulatio Ovulatio
n n
Estrus
Estrus
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Length of the estrous cycle in cattle with 2 follicular waves
is
typically 18 to 20 days, slightly shorter than the estrous
cycle
10
Endocrinology During the Estrous Cycle
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Ovulatio Ovulatio
n n
Estrus
Estrus
FSH
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Example shown for cattle having 3 follicular waves during
a
21-day estrous cycle
11
Endocrinology During the Estrous Cycle
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Ovulatio Ovulatio
n n
LH Surge
LH Surge
Estrus
Estrus
LH pulses LH pulses
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Example shown for cattle having 3 follicular waves during
a
21-day estrous cycle
12
Endocrinology During the Estrous Cycle
Estrogen
Ovulatio Ovulatio
n n
Estrus
Estrus
Estrogen
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Example shown for cattle having 3 follicular waves during
a
21-day estrous cycle
13
Corpus Luteum (CL)
Growth and Regression
Ovulatio
n
Estrus
Estrus
Growt Regressi
h on
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Corpus luteum develops from the ovulated follicle and
takes
approximately 10 days to reach mature size
14
Corpus Luteum (CL)
Progesterone
Growt Regressi
h on
Estrus
Estrus
Progesterone
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Corpus luteum produces progesterone
Progesterone is responsible for maintenance of pregnancy
after conception occurs
Corpus Luteum (CL) Regression 15
Prostaglandin F2 (PG)
Growt Regressi
h on
Estrus
Estrus
PG
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Late in the estrous cycle, uterus produces PG which causes
regression of corpus luteum
PG is the same or similar hormone in “Lutalyse®”,
“Estrumate®”,
“ProstaMate®”, and “In Synch®”
16
Corpus Luteum (CL) Maintenance
When cow becomes pregnant …
Growt
Maintena
h
nce
Estrus
Embry PG
o
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Presence of embryo blocks uterus to produce PG late in the
estrous cycle which causes maintenance of corpus luteum
and
production of progesterone for pregnancy
17
Progesterone regulates LH Pulses
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
LH pulses LH pulses
LH
Surge
Estrus
Estrus
Progesterone
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Progesterone regulates secretion pattern of LH pulses and
hence, follicular development
18
Endocrinology of the Estrous
Cycle
Progesteron
Estroge e PG
n
Estrus
Estrus
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Relationships among estrogen, progesterone, and PG
during the
21-day estrous cycle
Physiology and Endocrinology 19
of the Estrous Cycle
Estrus
Estrus
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Relationships among structural and hormonal changes during
the
21-day estrous cycle (example shown for cattle having 3
20
Estrus
Synchronization
21
Effective Estrus Synchronization Programs
Shorten the AI breeding season
Cows or heifers are in estrus during a
predictable
interval that facilitates AI
Reduce time and labor required to detect
estrus
Result in more cows and heifers becoming
pregnant early during the breeding season
Progestin-based programs can induce estrous
* Progestins are progesterone-like compounds that
cyclicity
act
in anestrous cows and prepubertal
heifers
like progesterone
22
Effective Estrus Synchronization Programs
Result in older and heavier calves at
weaning
Will have beneficial effects on the next
breeding season
More cows and heifers calve early
More days postpartum at the next breeding
season
Replacement heifers will be older
23
Effective Estrus Synchronization Programs
Consider what happens during a restricted breeding
season, based on the average 21-day estrous cycle:
If cows or heifers are cycling when an estrus synchronization
treatment is implemented and they exhibit estrus during the
synchronized period, they would have 3 opportunities to
conceive
during a 45-day period or 4 opportunities during a 65-day
period
If cows or heifers are cycling but no estrus synchronization
treatment is implemented, then they have only 2 (45-day) or
3 (65-day) opportunities to conceive
If cows or heifers are not cycling at the beginning of the
breeding season, they have even less opportunity to
Points to Consider When Using 24
Estrus Synchronization
Estrus synchronization is never a substitute for:
Nutrition
Herd health
Proper management
Estrus synchronization should not be used as a crutch
for poor management
When administered appropriately, estrus
synchronization is an effective reproductive
management tool that can be used to facilitate AI
Points to Consider When Using 25
Estrus Synchronization
Determine which females would make the
best candidates before beginning estrus
synchronization
Successful application of estrus
synchronization is easier to accomplish
with
heifers (no calves to work with)
37
Selecting Heifers for Estrus
Synchronization
Heifers should be of adequate age
(cycling or close to reaching puberty)
Heifers should be of adequate weight
Developed to 65 % of projected mature
weight
Do you know the mature weight of your
cows?
Utilize reproductive tract score (RTS) to
38
Timing of Puberty in Heifers
Target weight:
Heifers reach puberty at
approximately 65% of their mature
body weight
Determine your desired weight at
breeding, calculate the gain needed to
meet that weight, and feed to meet it
39
Management Considerations for Heifers
DO NOT use growth promoting implants
in
replacement heifers
Implants may disrupt or impair normal
development of reproductive organs
Developing uterus is especially sensitive to
growth promoting implants
40
Management Considerations for Heifers
Reproductive Tract Scores (RTS) are
determined by rectal palpation of the
ovaries and uterus
The RTS should be performed
approximately 6 to 8 weeks prior to
breeding season and/or approximately
2 weeks prior to beginning an estrus
synchronization treatment
41
Reproductive Tract Scores (RTS)
Ovarian Measurement (mm)
Ovarian
RTS Uterine horns Length Height Width Structures Description
Immature
1 < 20 mm diameter No palpable Infantile
15 10 8
follicles
No tone
8 mm Prepubertal
2 20-25 mm diameter 18 12 10 (more than 30
No tone follicles days to puberty)
8-10 mm Peripubertal
3 20-25 mm diameter 22 15 10 (within 30 days
Slight tone follicles to puberty)
30 mm diameter Cycling
4 30 16 12 > 10 mm
Good tone (Follicular Phase)
follicles
CL possible Cycling
5 > 30 mm diameter > 32 20 15 (Luteal Phase)
CL present
Adapted from Anderson et al.,
42
RTS Measurements
Pelvic Pelvic Pelvic
No. of Weight Height Width Area Estrous
RTS Heifers (lb) (cm) (cm) (cm2) Response
1 61 594a 13.9a 10.9a 152a 54 %a
2 278 620b 14.1a 11.2a 158a 66 %b
3 1103 697c 14.5b 11.4b 166b 76 %c
4 494 733d 14.7c 11.7c 172c 83 %d
5 728 755d 14.7c 11.7c 172c 86 %d
a, b, c, d
= P < 0.05
Note the relationship between increasing RTS, weight, and skeletal
development determined by pelvic area
Estrous response increased among heifers that were more
reproductively
mature at the beginning of estrus synchronization and/or breeding
Adapted from Patterson et al.,
43
Relationship Between RTS and Pregnancy
No. of Pregnanc
RTS Heifers Pregna Open y Rate
nt
1 53 22 58 %
31
2 762 152 80 %
610
3 3458 444 87 %
3014
4 3398 392 89 %
3006
5 2613 282 89 %
Higher pregnancy rates at 2331
the end of the breeding season were
achieved among heifers that were more reproductively mature
at
the beginning of estrus synchronization and/or breeding season
Randle et al., 2001
53
Prepubertal Anestrus
Timing of puberty is controlled by …
Age
Weight Many factors
Breed involved
Season
Develop heifers to approximately 65%
of
mature weight by the breeding season
This will help them to attain puberty at
55
Nutritional Anestrus
Nutritionally stressed cattle will
experience delays in return to
estrus after calving
Can be “managed” through
Improvement in BODY CONDITION
Proper feeding management
56
Postpartum Anestrus
Induction of Estrous Cyclicity
Bull exposure
Prepubertal heifers
Exposure of prepubertal heifers to sterile bulls (for
example, vasectomized, epididyectomized etc.) for 60 to
80 days before the breeding season may hasten the
onset of puberty (ranges from no effect to 70 days
earlier) Izard and Vandenbergh, 1982; Berardinelli et al.,
1978;
MacMillan et al., 1979; Roberson et al., 1991
This procedure also shortens the postpartum period in
anestrous cows however my concentration is on heifers
Foote, 1974; MacMillan et al., 1979;
Zalesky et al., 1984; Gifford et al.,
Products Currently Utilized in Protocols to Synchronize 28
Estrus
*** Price may vary depending on suppliers ***
Prostaglandin F2 (PG)
Lutalyse®, Estrumate®, ProstaMate®, In Synch®
Approximate cost is $3.00/dose (range $2.50-$4.00)
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
Cystorelin®, Factrel®, Fertagyl®
Approximate cost is $5.00/dose (range $4.00-$6.00)
Melengestrol Acetate (MGA® Premix)
Approximate cost ranges $0.14 - $0.40/day/head including
carrier
14 days ($2.00-$5.60/head) or 7 days ($1.00-$2.80/head)
EAZI-BREED™ CIDR® Cattle Insert (CIDR)
60
Prostaglandin F2
(PG)
Prostaglandin F2 61
(PG)
PG causes CL regression
No effect on anestrous cattle
No induction of estrous cyclicity
No Jump-start
Only effective during Days 6 (6 days
after estrus) to 16 of the estrous
cycle
Lauderdale, 1972
Prostaglandin F2 62
(PG)
PG regresses CL
NO NO
YES
Estrus Estrus
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0
Day of the Estrous Cycle
Estrous Response 77
Double Injection PG Program
Example shown is 14-day interval for PG injections
50
2 x PG
% of cows in estrus
40
30
20
10
PG
0
0 < 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 > 120
Hours following second PG injection
Modified from Stevenson et al.,
Single or Double Injection PG 74
Programs
Advantages:
Cost effective ($3.00 or $ 6.00)
Easy to use
Good fertility
Single or Double Injection PG 75
Programs
Disadvantages:
No effect between days 0 to 4 or 16 to 21 of the
estrous cycle
Improved effectiveness after day 10 of the
estrous cycle
Require heifers and cows to have CL (cycling)
Require extensive estrus detection (minimum
7 days)
No induction of estrous cyclicity
(No Jump-start)
Possible Outcomes 76
Single or Double Injection PG
Programs
Estrous response:
Varies depending on the degree of estrous cyclicity
in the herd and the stage of the estrous cycle of
an individual animal
Single injection of PG … up to 40 to 60 %
Double injection of PG … up to 50 to 80 %
Timing of estrus:
Before PG injection to 7 to 10 days after PG
injection
Peak response ranges from 48 to 96 hours after PG
injection
98
Melengestrol Acetate
(MGA )
®
MGA is a registered trademark of Pfizer Animal Health
99
Melengestrol Acetate (MGA)
Orally active progestin, administered as a
feed
additive
Blocks estrus and ovulation
Acts similar to progesterone from CL
MGA can induce estrous cyclicity in
peripubertal
(within 30 days to attain puberty) heifers and
postpartum anestrous cows
Currently, MGA and CIDR are the only
Patterson et al.,
10
0
Intake Considerations
What type of carrier to use?
Mix with grain source (example: cracked or ground
corn)
For example: MGA with ground corn
Top dressing does not work well
If cattle are on lush pasture, remove salt from pasture
and include salt in MGA carrier
0.5 oz. Salt per cow and MGA in carrier)
Pellet form (very palatable)
For example: MFA Cattle Charge® with MGA
10
1
Intake Considerations
Need to provide adequate bunk space
(18 inches per heifer, and 24 inches per cow)
Make sure cattle come to bunk before start
of
feeding MGA
If cattle are not used to bunk feeding, 1-2
weeks
of warm-up bunk feeding is recommended
MGA should be fed one time per day at
approximately the same time every day
Separate heifers from cows for MGA feeding
Late-term pregnant cows should not be fed
• MGA can be combined with PG to improve
results
10
6
Distribution of Estrus
3-5 days
% of 7-10
herd in days
estrus
MGA- MGA only
PG (for Natural service)
(for AI)
Adding the PG injection to the MGA program results in a much
tighter synchronization of estrus
Adapted from Patterson et al., 2000
Management Considerations 10
Why Not Introduce Bulls Right After MGA 7
Withdrawal?
Less fertile
estrus after
MGA 2nd estrus for 2nd estrus for
7-10 days anestrous most of cows
cows after (more fertile)
short estrous
% of
cycle (more
herd in fertile)
estrus
Suggested timing of introducing
bulls
(see page 104 and 105)
0 5 10 15 20 25
30
Days
If bulls were introduced to theafter
herd MGA
right feeding
after MGA
withdrawal,
they may be overworked during the less fertile estrous period
after MGA withdrawal, but before cows express fertile estrus
Natural Service with MGA 10
9
Program
Advantages:
Easy to use
Shortens the next calving season
(ideal way to start AI program in the following
year)
MGA can induce estrous cyclicity in postpartum
anestrous cows (Jump-start)
Does not require cattle to be handled
Natural Service with MGA 11
0
Program
Disadvantages:
Must have adequate bull-power
At least 1:15 to 20 bull:female ratio for
2-year or older bulls
Yearling bulls … consider decreasing the
bull:female ratio
Resulting calves may be of inferior quality and
provide less genetic improvement for the herd
compared to AI calves (depends on the genetic
quality of the clean-up bulls)