Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system
Effective oestrus detection is essential for optimizing fertility management on dairy farms. This study explores how weather parameters affect oestrus occurrence and the behavioural responses of teaser bulls to oestrus heifers in two housing systems: barn and loose house. Key environmental factors,...
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| Format: | Article |
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Director of Academics and Research, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.jvas.in/article/teaser-bulls-response-to-oestrus-heifers-weather-influence-on-oestrus-in-barn-and-loose-housing-system |
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| author | H. Haleema A. Prasad K.S. Anil C. Balusami S. Pramod Sabin George V.S. Athira |
| author_facet | H. Haleema A. Prasad K.S. Anil C. Balusami S. Pramod Sabin George V.S. Athira |
| author_sort | H. Haleema |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Effective oestrus detection is essential for optimizing fertility management on dairy farms. This study explores how weather parameters affect oestrus occurrence and the behavioural responses of teaser bulls to oestrus heifers in two housing systems: barn and loose house. Key environmental factors, such as ambient temperature and relative humidity, were monitored throughout the study. Twelve crossbred Holstein heifers were divided into two groups of six, with one group housed in a barn and the other in a loose housing system. Over 60 days, they were observed for signs of oestrus, and teaser bulls were introduced to evaluate their behaviours, including Flehmen responses and mounting attempts. Although there were significant differences in temperature and humidity between the two housing systems, the temperature-humidity index (THI) did not correlate with oestrus occurrence, challenging some previous studies. The research revealed that the loose housing system resulted in a markedly higher frequency of Flehmen responses and mounting attempts, with mean ranks of 8.14 and 8.57, respectively, compared to 4.20 and 3.60 in the barn system (p-value: 0.025 and 0.014). These results highlight the importance of housing conditions in enhancing reproductive management. Loose housing systems, by promoting more natural social interactions and behavioural displays, improve the accuracy and efficiency of oestrus detection, leading to more timely and successful inseminations and boosting overall herd productivity. Moreover, this system enhances animal welfare by reducing stress, providing greater freedom of movement and allowing for effective herd management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-55f1cf58a1c44d22b5dac07ca4ca3054 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0971-0701 2582-0605 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Director of Academics and Research, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-55f1cf58a1c44d22b5dac07ca4ca30542025-08-20T02:35:50ZengDirector of Academics and Research, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences UniversityJournal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences0971-07012582-06052025-06-0156220120610.51966/jvas.2025.56.2.201-206Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing systemH. HaleemaA. PrasadK.S. AnilC. BalusamiS. PramodSabin GeorgeV.S. AthiraEffective oestrus detection is essential for optimizing fertility management on dairy farms. This study explores how weather parameters affect oestrus occurrence and the behavioural responses of teaser bulls to oestrus heifers in two housing systems: barn and loose house. Key environmental factors, such as ambient temperature and relative humidity, were monitored throughout the study. Twelve crossbred Holstein heifers were divided into two groups of six, with one group housed in a barn and the other in a loose housing system. Over 60 days, they were observed for signs of oestrus, and teaser bulls were introduced to evaluate their behaviours, including Flehmen responses and mounting attempts. Although there were significant differences in temperature and humidity between the two housing systems, the temperature-humidity index (THI) did not correlate with oestrus occurrence, challenging some previous studies. The research revealed that the loose housing system resulted in a markedly higher frequency of Flehmen responses and mounting attempts, with mean ranks of 8.14 and 8.57, respectively, compared to 4.20 and 3.60 in the barn system (p-value: 0.025 and 0.014). These results highlight the importance of housing conditions in enhancing reproductive management. Loose housing systems, by promoting more natural social interactions and behavioural displays, improve the accuracy and efficiency of oestrus detection, leading to more timely and successful inseminations and boosting overall herd productivity. Moreover, this system enhances animal welfare by reducing stress, providing greater freedom of movement and allowing for effective herd management.https://www.jvas.in/article/teaser-bulls-response-to-oestrus-heifers-weather-influence-on-oestrus-in-barn-and-loose-housing-system |
| spellingShingle | H. Haleema A. Prasad K.S. Anil C. Balusami S. Pramod Sabin George V.S. Athira Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences |
| title | Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system |
| title_full | Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system |
| title_fullStr | Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system |
| title_short | Teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers: weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system |
| title_sort | teaser bulls response to oestrus heifers weather influence on oestrus in barn and loose housing system |
| url | https://www.jvas.in/article/teaser-bulls-response-to-oestrus-heifers-weather-influence-on-oestrus-in-barn-and-loose-housing-system |
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