Narrative review covers estrus detection strategies and technologies in dairy cattle within the dairy industry

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 28, 2026 Medically reviewed May 28, 2026 Study authors: Devaraj Sankarganesh, Parcha Durga Sai Sita Yesaswini Krishna Prasad, Shivani Sujit, Annis Inncia Gn… DOI ↗ By Dr. Lars van Dijk, PhD · Surgical, Procedural & Diagnostic

Key Takeaway

Note that this narrative review outlines estrus detection technologies in dairy cattle without reporting efficacy data.

This narrative review focuses on estrus detection strategies and technologies within the dairy industry. The scope encompasses a broad range of methods including artificial insemination, estrus synchronization using hormonal treatments, artificial intelligence-aided data analyses, biomarker-based chemical sensors, and activity-based wearable and implantable sensors. The review also considers behavioral datasets as part of the technological landscape for detection. No specific population sample size or follow-up duration was reported in this source. The authors do not report primary or secondary outcomes, nor do they detail adverse events or tolerability. Consequently, no pooled effect sizes or specific efficacy rates are provided in this text. The review serves to outline the current state of these technologies rather than to establish clinical efficacy or safety profiles. Limitations acknowledged by the authors or gaps in the literature are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. The practice relevance of these findings is not reported. Readers should interpret this document as a qualitative overview rather than a quantitative assessment of intervention performance.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Many factors may negatively affect dairy cattle productivity, among which imprecise estrus detection is a major contributor to low reproductive efficiency. Given that artificial insemination is widely used in the dairy industry, accurate estrus detection is of great importance. Estrus synchronization using hormonal treatments is a common approach to regulate the estrous cycle and to improve the efficiency of estrus detection. Estrus detection using artificial intelligence-aided data analyses is a new development. Biomarker-based chemical sensors and activity based wearable and implantable sensors are also available for monitoring. Behavioral datasets have been used in machine learning and other approaches; however, such datasets must be validated for their applicability in detecting estrus before being utilized by dairy farmers. The cumulative knowledge of estrus detection approaches, their merits, demerits, applicability, and cost-effectiveness is highly warranted. Therefore, here, we provide an update on the recent approaches and technologies used for estrus detection, particularly in dairy cattle, and discuss emerging experimental technologies with potential for future applications.