fertility
Cows in Heat: The Bovine Oestrous Cycle
What is the oestrous cycle? The oestrous cycle is a series of changes that a female animal’s body goes through to prepare for fertilisation and pregnancy. These changes, both behavioural and physiological, are driven by hormonal fluctuations. Understanding how cows go into and out of heat is vital for the modern dairy farmer. What does …
Cystic Ovarian Disease
What is Cystic Ovarian Disease in cattle? Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is a major problem associated with poor fertility in dairy cattle. Reportedly, from 6 to 19% of dairy cows develop cysts, however it is possible that the incidence of the disease is as high as 60%, as many heifers which develop ovarian cysts recover …