Abstract
To study the effects of exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) on the estrous cycle of dairy cows under short-day photoperiod, 16 non-lactating, non-pregnant Holstein cows were exposed to a vertical electric field of 10 kV/m and a horizontal magnetic field of 30 μT for 16 h per day in a cross-over design consisting of two sequences. Each sequence included three periods, and each period corresponded to the duration of one estrous cycle. All animals were maintained under short photoperiod (8 h light/16 h dark) during the trial. Exposure to EMF had an impact on the duration of a complete estrous cycle ( P<0.01) and on the duration of the luteal phase ( P<0.01). The mean duration of one cycle was 19.5±0.4 for the control and 21.3±0.4 days for the exposed animals, respectively. The mean duration of the luteal phase was 15.4±0.4 days for the control and 17.2±0.4 days for the exposed group. The total area under the progesterone (P 4) curve, the amplitude of the curve or the slope of the P 4 rise at the onset of the luteal phase were not affected by EMF exposure. Results indicate that exposure to EMF may increase the duration of the estrous cycle.
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