Investigation of body secretions bio-indicators in cattle estrus detection

This study was conducted to detect volatile chemical compounds (pheromones) in cow body fluids, which is an alternative to other methods for detecting estrus in animals. Animal material of the present study consisted of Holstein cows with similar age and lactation stage. In the study, cows were synchronized and their sweat, urine, feaces, milk, saliva, vaginal secretions and blood samples were taken pre-estrus, estrus and post-estrus and analyzed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for determination of volatile odor compounds in these liquids. The results of the study showed that similar and different compounds were detected in all three periods. Within the study of this study, a total of 531 volatile compounds were detected in the preestrus period, 538 in the estrus period, and 494 in the postestrus period in blood, feces, saliva, urine, milk, sweat and vaginal fluids. It was determined that the most volatile compound was in the saliva (85), then in the vaginal discharge (82) and blood (80), and the least compound was in milk (69). A total of 8 compounds were found to be common in all body fluids and the ratio of these compounds to those detected in all body fluids was 2.6%.Especially in the estrus, 3-methyl pentane, hexanal, 4-methylphenol (p-cresol), phenylacetaldehyde, 3-phenylpropiononitrile, 1H-indole, cyclotetrasiloxane octamethyl- and pentane 2-methyl compounds were detected in all body fluids and these odor compounds could be an alternative method for determining estrus.