high levels of progesterone are

Reproduction necessary to make sure there are

Issues no contractions or changes in the
uterus that might terminate the
pregnancy. Progesterone keeps the
cow from coming back into heat.
Both hormones work as a
team for reproduction. Estrogen
makes things happen (preparing
the vagina, cervix and uterus for
breeding and bringing the cow
into heat), and progesterone calms
things down (creating an interlude
between heat periods and ensuring
a safe, stable pregnancy).
Other necessary hormones,
follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH) and luteinizing hormone
(LH), are produced by the
pituitary gland and influence
the two ovarian hormones. FSH
triggers growth, development and
function of the follicle (which
then creates estrogen), and LH
causes the follicle to rupture
(ovulate) and the corpus luteum
(CL) to emerge in its place. The
CL produces progesterone.
Several other hormones play a
role in reproduction. Prostaglandin
is secreted by the uterus and causes
the CL on the ovary to regress so

Reproduction 101: follicles can develop and create

estrogen to trigger a new heat
cycle. If an embryo has attached

Basics of Breeding
to the uterine lining, however,
it sends a signal to the uterus to
prevent prostaglandin release,
and therefore, the CL remains in

Cows and Heifers

by Heather Smith Thomas
place on the ovary. The CL thus
continues to produce progesterone
and keep the cow from coming
back into heat, protecting the
pregnancy. Contractions and

N
ormal reproduction in an embryo establishes itself in the secretions of the uterus during
the cow depends on uterus. Progesterone suppresses heat (which aid passage of sperm)
interaction among several further development of follicles would be dangerous to the
hormones, especially estrogen in the ovary and, thus, thwarts developing embryo.
and progesterone, which are both production of estrogen.
produced by the ovary. Estrogen A rise in estrogen is what Estrous cycle
is created by maturing follicles brings the cow into heat; then The estrous cycle in cattle consists of
and regulates the development progesterone levels rise while she’s a series of events that keep recurring
and function of much of the still in heat, since progesterone in definite order. A complete cycle
reproductive tract. Estrogen is the is crucial for preparing the averages 20 days in heifers and 21
hormone that triggers onset of uterus to receive a fertilized egg days in cows (ranging from 17 to
heat (estrus). and providing an environment 24 days from the start of one heat
Progesterone is the where it can grow. The embryo period to the start of the next, if the
predominant hormone between cannot attach and survive unless animal does not become pregnant).
heat cycles and during pregnancy. the uterine tissues have been During the last part of the cycle, the
It is responsible for and necessary prepared by these hormones. Once reproductive tract prepares for the
for continuation of pregnancy once pregnancy is established, however, next estrus and ovulation.

36 HEREFORD WORLD / March 2008 www.hereford.org

 Post-estrus bleeding may create
Most cows follow a specific reaches maximum growth and
timetable, though these time production of progesterone by day a little bloody discharge by day
frames are averages; some 15 or 16. This period is the longest 2 or 3 after the cow/heifer goes
individuals have a slightly shorter phase of the estrous cycle and
or longer sequence of events. At is called diestrus (which means out of heat. If you didn’t notice
the beginning, which can be called between estrus). Progesterone she was in heat, this discharge
day 0, the cow is in a standing heat, secreted by the CL blocks any LH
brought on by increased levels of release from the pituitary gland, so
will be a clue that she was in heat
estrogen produced by a maturing the ovaries are relatively inactive: a few days earlier.
follicle. At the end of standing no follicles can mature or ovulate.
heat, which lasts from eight The cervix is tightly closed and
hours to two days but is usually there are no secretions from the and wander in search of a bull
about 12 to 24 hours, the mature reproductive tract. (traveling three or four times as
follicle ruptures and ovulates in On days 16 to 18, the follicles much as she would normally do),
response to a surge of LH from on the ovaries begin growing sniffing other cattle. She interacts
the pituitary gland. Ovulation again, and the resultant estrogen more with herdmates — licking
usually takes place 12 hours secretion stimulates the uterus them or fighting with them. As
after the cow goes out of heat. to secrete prostaglandin, causing she progresses into heat, she starts
On days 1 and 2, the cells that rapid regression of the CL. By riding other cattle and standing
lined the follicle change and create day 18 or 19, the CL is becoming for them to mount her.
the CL in the area where ovulation nonfunctional, so there’s very little She’ll usually stand and let
occurred. During days 2 to 5, the progesterone release — no more another cow or heifer mount her
CL grows rapidly and produces high blocking action by progesterone on before she’ll stand for a bull and
levels of progesterone, causing any the other hormones. Several follicles will also try to mount the bull
other follicles that were maturing on the ovary start growing, and one before she’ll stand still for him
to regress. During the early part of becomes dominant with a fast surge to breed her. He’ll often rest his
this phase, part of the lining over of growth-secreting estrogen. chin on her rump or loin to test
the caruncles (small bumps on the By day 19 or 20, the cow comes whether or not she will stand
uterine wall where the placenta into heat again due to the increase before he tries to mount her. If
attaches during pregnancy) becomes in estrogen and the corresponding there are several females in heat
engorged with blood, and some decrease in progesterone. The at the same time, they will be
bleeding from the smaller capillaries cycle then returns to day 0 to start grouped together, riding each
may occur. This post-estrus bleeding over again, and the mature follicle other and the bull, if there’s a
(caused by withdrawal of estrogen) ruptures at the end of heat and bull present. Cows coming into
may create a little bloody discharge releases its egg. or going out of heat will be part
by day 2 or 3 after the cow/heifer of the active group engaging in
goes out of heat. If you didn’t notice Signs of heat mounting or fighting activity.
she was in heat, this discharge will There are several behavioral signs Duration of standing heat will
be a clue that she was in heat a few of estrus, which are often more vary among individuals, ranging
days earlier. pronounced in heifers than in from six to 24 hours (12 to 16
On days 5 and 6, the CL cows. As the animal comes into hours is average). This can differ
continues to develop and usually heat, she is restless and may bawl continued on page 38 ...

Bovine estrous cycle regressing

CL
ruptured
ovum follicle
old CL growing
Maturing follicles
follicle
proestrus
↓ ovulation new CL regressed
CL CL nonfunctional
Increase Continued CL growth Begin follicle growth ↓
estrogen Increase ↓ ↓
metestrus
One follicle
↓ LH Increase progesterone Increase estrogen becomes dominant
Standing ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
heat Ovulation CL rapid growth Blocked LH release Increase prostaglandin Surge in estrogen
Days
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
diestrus
estrus
mature old CL CL Increase progesterone mature Decrease progesterone Standing heat
follicle CL ↓ ↓
produced
ovary Regression of CL Cycle repeats

www.hereford.org March 2008 / HEREFORD WORLD 37

 ...Repro 101 continued from page 37
from one heat cycle to another; hips and flanks from the feet of that the cow or heifer was in heat
Reproduction cows are not always consistent in animals that mounted her. If she’s will be a bright red (bloody) tinge
Issues their length of standing heat. As shedding winter hair, it will be to the otherwise clear mucus, about
a cow goes out of heat, she may rubbed off over her tailhead and 48 hours after she goes out of heat.
continue for a few hours to stand hipbones from being mounted. In This bloody discharge is seen more
for other cows to mount her but some cases there may be abrasions often in heifers than in cows and
will no longer accept the bull. and raw areas, if she was mounted will be evident even if she was not
Physical signs of heat include a lot, especially if there was more bred (as in a group of heifers before
secretion of fluid and mucus from than one bull with the group and the bull is put with them). If you are
glands in the uterus, cervix and they competed with each other, watching females for signs of heat
vagina; the cervix is relaxed and chasing her around and breeding (as for an artificial insemination
open for sperm from the bull to her repeatedly. [AI] program) and you notice this
enter the uterus, and the fluids If she was actually bred, she will bloody discharge, it is too late for
enable the sperm to swim through hold her tail out for several hours that animal to be bred, but you can
the uterus and into the oviducts. or several days due to irritation estimate that she’ll be back in heat
of the vagina. She may stand with again in about 17 to 19 days.
her back arched, straining. There
may be a discharge of seminal Short cycles
fluid from her vulva. Sometimes Even though a cow usually returns
a bull will mount and enter a cow to heat 18 to 24 days after her
but not ejaculate (especially if he’s last heat period (if not bred and
tired), and this activity won’t create settled), short cycles often occur in
much irritation, so she won’t show which she returns to heat seven to
evidence of being bred. If she was 12 days after her last heat. These
bred (with the bull giving a leap short cycles may be caused by a
and a thrust as he ejaculates), she non-functional CL (or the CL
will hold her tail out afterward and did not form after ovulation or
show signs of vaginal irritation. dies prematurely). Progesterone
Even after she no longer holds levels remain too low to keep her
her tail out, it may still “kink” out from coming back into heat again.
a little for a day or so when she’s These short cycles are common,
traveling, especially when trotting. especially when cows start cycling
If she was bred, there may be a again after calving. The first heat,
white/yellow discharge from her which usually occurs a few weeks to
vulva a day or two later. Though two months after calving, may be
it may look like pus, it’s usually followed by another heat just seven
not (unless the cow has a uterine to 12 days later.
infection). After breeding, the Immediately after the cow
Females will usually stand and let another uterus cleans out the extra debris calves, follicles in the ovaries
cow or heifer mount her before she’ll stand (seminal fluid, dead sperm, etc.), begin to grow again but may take
for a bull and will also try to mount the bull flushing it out while the cervix is longer to ovulate because the cow
before she’ll stand still for him to breed her.
still partially open and the newly is nursing a calf. It takes awhile
created conceptus is still safe in the for the cycle to normalize after
There may be a discharge from the oviduct. The discharge from the calving, though if a cow loses her
vulva — a transparent mucus with vulva at this time is normal. calf and dries up her milk, she will
the consistency of egg white. It is It takes three to four days for return to heat sooner. Even if a cow
so viscous and elastic that it holds the fertilized egg to move down comes into heat soon after calving,
together in a long string from the through the oviduct and into the however, you don’t want her
vulva to the ground. This mucus uterus, and this process gives bred that early. The uterus is not
may be smeared over the cow’s or Mother Nature a chance to “clean ready for another pregnancy yet.
heifer’s buttocks and flanks due to house” after the breeding and Complete involution (shrinking
her tail swishing. Her tail may be prepare the uterus to receive the back to normal size) of the uterus
slightly raised, and her vulva may embryo. Unless a cow already has a takes awhile, and it’s best if the
be enlarged (swollen) and reddish. uterine infection (such as following cow is at least 45 days past calving
If she’s with other cattle, there a difficult calving), this flushing before she is bred again. HW
is usually a ruffling of hair over gets rid of any contamination and
her tailhead and hipbones from the pregnancy can safely begin. Editor’s note: For more information
mounting activity. Even if you The vaginal discharge after about reproduction, see Heather Smith
didn’t see her in heat, there is breeding is thus white or yellowish Thomas’ new book “Essential Guide to
generally some evidence for a few rather than clear. If it’s clear, the Calving” available at Amazon.com or
days. She may have mud on her cow may not have been bred. A sign anywhere books are sold.

38 HEREFORD WORLD / March 2008 www.hereford.org