Estrous Cycle = Heat Period = Estrus

Estrous Cycle = Heat Period = Estrus

• Definite period in each reproductive cycle when breeding can take place

• The time from the beginning of one heat period to the beginning of the next

• Controlled by hormones FSH and LH

• Different animal species have different patterns of estrous cycles

Estrous Cycle Intervals

• Polyestrous — cattle, swine

• Seasonally polyestrous — horses, sheep, cats

• Diestrous — dogs

• Monoestrous — foxes, minks

Proestrus

 follicular growth; "preparation" via thickening of lining, used for vaginal cytology

Estrus = heat

short period of receptibility, ends in ovulation

Metestrus

corpus luteum grows, awaits implantation or not

Diestrus

pseudocyesis, or pseudopregnancy

Anestrus

dependent on what interval type the animal has