Reproductive Physiology


Successful cattle breeding management starts with a comprehensive understanding of the reproductive physiology of cattle. The reproductive physiology in female cows involves various hormones and phases of the estrus cycles as well as methods for detecting pregnancy.

Hormone activity regulates the estrus cycle in cattle. The close management of hormone levels and the estrus cycle allows for more opportunities for cattle to become pregnant. Certain behavioral signs will indicate that the cow has the proper hormone levels for insemination, including restlessness, decreased milk production, and standing to be mounted, as well as several others.

Several different methods are used to detect pregnancy in female cattle, such as technical expertise and ultrasonography. Cattle may also show visual symptoms of pregnancy like bloody discharge. Although cows get pregnant by exposure to a bull or artificial insemination, this alone does not prove a certain pregnancy status. Knowing about the reproductive physiology in cattle is important to successful cattle breeding.