Terms Associated with Estrous Cycles in Animals

Artificial Insemination (AI)

Injecting semen into the vagina or uterus by use of a special syringe rather than by natural copulation

Diestrous animals

Species that have two estrous cycles per year; dogs

Estrous

An adjective used to describe events associated with the breeding cycle

Estrus

A noun; the period when the female accepts the male

Heat

Common name for estrus

Induced ovulator

Species that must be bred before they ovulate; cats

Monestrous animals

Animals that cycle only one time per year; wolves, foxes, bears

Polyestrous animals

Species that have estrous cycles throughout the year; humans, cattle, pigs

Presentation

The orientation of the fetus when parturition begins

Seasonally polyestrous animals

Species that have more than one estrous cycle per year, but only during certain times of the year; cats, horses, sheep, goats, hamsters

Synchronized estrus

Use of hormones to create a group of females that will come into estrus at the same time; used with artificial insemination procedures so many females can be inseminated at the same time