Reproductive Hormones


The cattle estrus cycle is a cycle of endocrine events associated with morphological changes in the cow’s reproductive tract accompanied with certain behavioral traits.

Cows receive estrus in a carefully regulated cycle, which gives repeated opportunities to the animals to become pregnant. It is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (ovary) axis producing hormones that dictate reproductive events in cattle.

Hormone Activity in Female Cattle
Hormone Activity in Female Cattle

Female Cow Hormones: Description and Function1

  1. Senger PL. Pathways to pregnancy and parturition. 2005. ISBN:978-0965764827