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- Studies have shown that the libido of male cattle is enhanced by a short (5-10 min) exposure to estrous females before mating is permitted.

- In pasture breeding, male cattle use odor to identify females coming into estrus an will often stay in close proximity to these females, courting and waiting for them to become receptive to mounts and copulation.

- Pre-estrous period of courting, or "tending", females enhances their libido and fertility when mating finally occurs.

"Principles and Applications of Domestic Animal Behavior" pgs. 98-99

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- Pros: Less labor intensive, less risky then AI, cheaper more realistic choice for most operations

- Cons: typically a longer calving season, takes longer to introduce new genetics, less uniformity within the herd

http://www.uwyo.edu/agecon/what%20we%20do/senior%20theses/2010_03_29_seniorthesis_pjacobsen.pdf
- Estrous cows stand immobile for mounting

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- Weigh approximately 60 to 100 pounds at birth.

- Within an hour they stand, walk, and nurse.

- The first milk produced by the cow is called colostrum.

- Calves must be kept with their mothers for at least 48 hours to ensure they receive adequate colostrum.

- Beef calves tend to be heavier at birth than other cattle.

- Calves drink 1 gallon of milk per day.

- Beef calves are weaned when they are 5 to 8 months old and weigh around 300 to 700 pounds.

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- AI allows for an enormous range of options in the bulls that you use.

- Bulls are listed in catalogs and their pedigree and EPD's are provided to help with the selection.

- Tools used in AI: liquid nitrogen tank, long gloves, insemination rod, paper towels, straw cutter, sheath, semen straw, warm water bath, thermometer, rubbing alcohol, clock, and record books.

- Standing heat occurs every 18-24 days and lasts for 10-14 hours.

- For AI the gloved arm is inserted into the rectum and the cervix grasped then the insemination rod is then introduced into the vagina and passed through the cervix into the uterus.

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- Bulls often rest their chins on the back or rump of females when testing for sexual receptivity "Principles and Applications of Domestic Behavior" pg. 96

- Hereford bulls curl back their upper lip exposing the front teeth while holding the position for several seconds to detect sexual receptivity

- The picture below demonstrates a bull resting his chin on the females rump

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- Single largest money-generating commodity in all of agriculture in recent times.

- 1.37 billion head distributed globally.

- One cow in the world for every 4.8 people.

- Market weight for cattle is 1200 lbs to 1400 lbs.

- Spring and fall for calving season.

- Gestation Period: 283 - 287 days or 9 months.

-Estrous cycle for a cow is 19-21 days.

- Duration of estrus (heat) is 13-17 hours.

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- Before standing estrus: 6-10 hours before. Will not stand to be ridden, vocal, nervous and restless, smells other cows, attempts to ride other cows, vulva moist, red, and slightly swollen.

- Standing estrus: 6-24 hours. Stands to be ridden, nervous and restless, congregates, rides other cows in standing estrus, vulva moist, red, and slightly swollen, and clear mucous discharge.

- After standing estrus: up to 10 hours later. Will not stand to be ridden and clear mucous discharge. Also after standing estrus: 1-3 days later. Will not stand to be ridden and bloody mucous discharge.

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- The mother licks the young to stimulate breathing, circulation, urination, and defecation.

- The after-birth is normally eaten due to the fact that the cows don't want to attract predators.

- Suckling behavior begins 2-5 hours after birth and the mother must be standing. The calf vigorously butts the mother's udder with its head while suckling.

- Experience cows usually stand within one minute after the birth of the calf.

- Cattle are "hider" animals and usually hide for 1-3 days only coming in contact with the newborn and mother

- Video illustrates the cow licking the new-born calf

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Life is never boring in the farm. This is a first-time mom only a few minutes after her baby is born

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- Mismothering: this may be due to the mother having suffered a long and difficult birth and not being able to stand up for suckling. Cases of mismothering are common with cowscalving in synchrony in intensively managed maternity groups.

- Nymphomania: cows behave like bulls, pawing and mounting but refuse to stand for mounting by other cows.

- Buller-Steer Syndrome: A common health and economic problem in feedlot operations. The typical buller-steer sexually attracts his penmates who take turns following and mounting the abnormal animal.

- Illness/Disease: Cattle that are not healthy will show abnormal behavior. Healthy cattle will appear alert, stretch on rising and be vocal.

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- Healthy calves, cows, and bulls will exhibit a good stretch after they get up and then relax to a normal posture.

- Higher rates of standing oftentimes with an arched back and head and ears lowered is taken as a sign of discomfort or discontent.

- Cattle under duress show signs by bellowing, butting, or kicking.

- When the tail is hanging straight down the cow is relaxed, grazing, or walking but when the tail is tucked the cow is cold, sick, or frightened.

- When bulls feel threatened it puts them in a physiological state of fight or flight. The threat display often begins with a broadside view with the back arched, the head down, and sometimes shaking the head rapidly from side to side, protrusion of the eyeballs, and erection of the hair along the back.

- The direct threat is head-on with head lowered and shoulders hunched and neck curved to the side toward the potential object of the aggression. Pawing with the forefeet, and sending dirt flying.

- A bulls flight zone is about 20 feet in range.

- A bull demonstrating direct threat. The head is don and shoulders hunched and neck curved towards the threat.