The Visual Guide to
Bovine Reproduction
Estrus Detection: Estrous Behavior
Standing to be Mounted.
The cow that stands to be mounted is the cow in heat. Cows are bisexual, hence may be mounted by a bull or another cow. Standing to be mounted is the gold standard of estrus detection.
Drost M (1974)
Mounting Heifer.
Heifer mounting a heifer in heat. Cows are bisexual and may be mounted by a bull or another female. Standing to be mounted indicates that she is in estrus.
Ott R (2013)
Estrous Behavior.
Mounting behavior by cows in heat. The primary sign of a cow in estrus is standing to be mounted by another cow or bull. Cows are bisexual in their behavior.
Drost M (1974)
Estrous Behavior in a Group of Cows.
Cows are bisexual when in estrus (cows mount cows, bulls mount cows, and bulls mount bulls). The primary sign of estrus is standing to be mounted. The cows doing the mounting like the Jersey cow in the picture need not be in estrus herself, however, cows that are coming into heat and those that have just been in heat are more likely to participate in group activity.
Drost M (1974)