Some aspects of oestrus in cattle, with reference to fertility on artificial insemination. 2. Crystalline patterns in cervico-vaginal mucus

Abstract

A study of crystallisation patterns in the cervical mucus of five cows is reported. The cows had calved 5-70 days before the trial period. Throughout the 46 days' experimental period 224 observations were made. Evidence of strong oestrogenic activity was obtained in 32.5 per cent. of observations made within five days before or after an observed oestrus. Only 14.0 per cent. of observations were indicative of pronounced oestrogenic activity in samples taken within 5-10 days before or after an observed heat. In samples which could not readily be related to an observed oestrus, some 47.8 per cent. of the patterns reflected pronounced oestrogenic influence. The significance of these results in relation to the detection of oestrus in cattle and in the study of atypical reproductive states is discussed.