Volatile compounds monitoring as indicative of female cattle fertile period using electronic nose

Abstract

Fertility in dairy cows has declined over the last 50 years, due to changes in endocrinal parameters. The accurate estrus determination would increase artificial insemination (AI) efficiency in cattle, offering great financial return, providing genetic improvement and genetic or acquired diseases control. Thus, an efficient electronic nose system developed with polyaniline based sensors doped with different acids for estrus determination in female cattle has been reported. In the proposed olfactory technology, disposable swabs for material collected from the perigenital area and vagina of the animals were used avoiding rectal manipulation, as well as disposable sensors, conferring ease handling and health safety for estrus determination process. The results showed the olfactory system accurately determined the estrus, best AI moment (12 h after estrus detection), and diestrus (corpus luteum phase) in cows, could be efficiently used to indicate the best AI time in cattle.