Acoustic features of vocalization as a tool for estrus detection in Murrah buffaloes

Abstract

Twelve Murrah buffaloes were selected from the institute herd and acoustic features like call duration, amplitude, total energy, mean pitch, mean intensity, formants (F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5), and N/H (Noise to Harmonic) ratio were analyzed. Call duration was significantly higher on day of estrus (1.52 ± 0.07 s) and proestrus (1.44 ± 0.07 s) than in metestrus (1.241 ± 0.04 s) and diestrus stages (0.981 ± 0.05 s). Total energy (0.121 ± 0.01 P2s), mean pitch (226.67 ± 14.11 Hz), maximum amplitude (0.959 ± 0.01 P), and mean intensity (85.05 ± 0.26 dB) was more (p < 0.05) in proestrus than in other stages. F1 (1131.94 ± 11.85 Hz) and F5 formants (6567.74 ± 12.62 Hz) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) during estrus, while F2 (2238.46 ± 26.53 Hz), F3 (3435.00 ± 19.33 Hz), and F4 formants (5127.71 ± 25.90 Hz) were higher (p < 0.05) in proestrus in comparison to other stages of estrous cycle. The identified acoustic features of voice in Murrah buffaloes were signficantly different in various stages of estrous cycle. These could be used as a tool for estrus detection management in buffaloes which have probems of silent estrus.