The Visual Guide to
Bubaline Reproduction
Estrus Detection: Estrous Behavior
Mounting Behavior.
Mounting behavior among female buffalo during estrus is uncommon.
Drost M (1985)
Approaching the buffalo cow.
A Murrah buffalo bull approaches a cow in estrus.
Khan FA (2019)
Courtship.
The bull sniffs the vulva of the cow to detect pheromones.
Khan FA (2019)
Mounting.
The bull mounts the cow after detecting she is in estrus. Extruded penis of the bull is clearly visible in the image.
Khan FA (2019)
Intromission and ejaculation.
The bull achieves intromission of the penis and ejaculates. Pelvic thrusting is observed during this process with one or both hindlimbs momentarily off the ground.
Khan FA (2019)
Dismounting.
The bull dismounts quickly after the ejaculation. Retraction of the penis back into the prepuce is observed as the bull is dismounting the cow or shortly thereafter.
Khan FA (2019)
Completion of the mating process.
The bull is fully dismounted and the penis is completely retracted into the prepuce.
Khan FA (2019)
Curling of the Tail.
Lateral curling of the tail is characteristic of estrous behavior. Note also the pink marks made by the chinball marker of a teaser animal.
Vale WG (1987)
Vulvar Edema.
Estrous edema of the vulvar lips of a crossbred heifer during puberty at 15 months of age. She showed her first heat at 13.5 months of age.
Vale WG (2007)
Puberty.
This 15-month old crossbred Murrah heifer first showed signs of estrus when she was 13.5 months old.
Vale WG (2007)
Vaginal Mucous Discharge.
A slight vaginal discharge of mucus is indicative of estrus.
Vale WG (1987)
Cloudy mucus.
Cloudy vaginal mucus was espressed during transrectal examination. This could be due to a low grade vaginitis after natural service.
Vale WG (2007)
Standing Heat.
A female in estrus is mounted by a bull wearing a chinball marking harness. A safe non-slippery surface is important. Standing to be mounted is a cardinal sign of estrus.
Vale WG (1987)
Flehmen Response.
The buffalo on the left is in estrus. The bull on the right displays the Flehmen response (lip curl) as he assesses her pheromones.
Vale WG (1987)
Flehmen Response.
Checking pheromones via the vomero-nasal organ.
Zambrano-Varon J (2006)
Olfactory Test.
The bull displays the Flehmen response to detect pheromones in the vaginal discharges of the females in heat.
Drost M (1985)
Chin Resting.
Chin resting is an early test by the bull to determine whether the female will stand to be mounted or will move away. The animal on the left is a teaser animal wearing a chin-ball marking harness.
Vale WG (1987)
Chin Resting.
Chin resting is an early indication that a cow may be (coming) in heat.
Zambrano-Varon J (2012)
Chin Resting by the Bull.
Chin resting is an early indication that a cow may be (coming) in heat. The bull detects pheromones and checks whether the cow will stand for service.
Zambrano-Varon J (2012)
Standing Estrus.
Cow in heat and standing to be mounted by a bull or by a herd mate.
Zambrano-Varon J (2012)
Mounting Bull.
Bull mounting a female in estrus. He leaves a mark on the whithers with the chin-ball marking harness.
Vale WG (1987)
Lip Curl.
The bull on the left demonstrates the lip curl (Flehmen response) as he checks the pheromone levels of the cow as she urinates.
Vale WG (1987)
Checking for Pheromones.
Teaser bull with (left) laterally deviated penis checking females for pheromones indicative of estrus.
Zambrano-Varon J (2006)
Estrus Detection.
Teaser bull checking for estrus. Initially, they rest their chin on the rump of the cow.
Zambrano-Varon J (2006)