Method for detecting bovine estrus by determining methyl heptanol concentrations in vaginal secretions
First Claim
1. A method for determining when a cow is in estrus, comprising steps of:
- monitoring said cow'"'"'s vaginal secretions over time to detect an increase in the amount of at least one indicator compound contained in said secretions, said indicator compound being an eight carbon alcohol and having a gas chromatographic ethyl ester index of between about 8.1 and 8.9, said increase in the amount of said indicator compound being indicative of estrus.
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Abstract
A novel method for determining when cows are in estrus is disclosed comprising the step of monitoring the vaginal secretions of a cow to determine an increase in the amount of an indicator compound in said secretions. A significant increase in the amount of the indicator compound, concentrations above about 0.1 micrograms per gram of collected secretion, is indicative of estrus. The preferred indicator alcohols have ethyl ester indices of 8.1 to 8.9. In particular these alcohols are methyl-1-heptanols, such as 6-methyl-1-heptanol, or are methyl hydroxy heptenes, such as 2-methyl-7 hyroxy-Δ-3-4 heptene. Alternatively, a cow may be determined to be in estrus simply to ascertaining that the concentration of methyl-1-heptanol is at least 0.1 microgram per gram of collected vaginal secretion.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for determining when a cow is in estrus, comprising steps of:
monitoring said cow'"'"'s vaginal secretions over time to detect an increase in the amount of at least one indicator compound contained in said secretions, said indicator compound being an eight carbon alcohol and having a gas chromatographic ethyl ester index of between about 8.1 and 8.9, said increase in the amount of said indicator compound being indicative of estrus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining whether a given cow is in estrus, comprising:
determining the methyl-1-heptanol concentration in the vaginal secretions of said cow to ascertain whether said concentration is greater than about 0.1 microgram per gram of secretion, whereby a concentration greater than 0.1 microgram per gram of secretion is indicative of estrus. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
Specification