(Objective) To research the main symptoms and occurrence probability of yak estrus. (Methods) Estrus symptoms and ovary development process of 147 female yaks are recorded and analyzed using tracking observation, clinical examination and B-mode ultrasound methods. (Results) The results indicate that in herd for the first estrus of the productive season, the proportion of yaks with labia swelling and blushing, mucus flowing out of vulva and external cervical orifice swelling is lower than that for the second time. The mean volume of preponderant ovary is 2.41±0.31cm at the beginning of estrus (0d), the diameter of largest follicle can reach to 2.41±0.31cm, and the ovulation taken placed in preponderant ovaries. In yak’s second estrus, the volume of both ovaries are larger than that during the first estrus (P<0.01). The diameter of the largest follicle (0.88 ±0.21) is less than that of the first estrus yaks, but the difference is not significant (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the ovulation takes place in small ovaries. Estrus period of these yaks (1.4±0.5d) are shorter than that in estrus for the first time (1.8±0.6d), but the difference are not significant (P>0.05). (Conclusion) These results imply that the estrus symptoms of yaks are not completely appeared, especially in the first estrus of the reproductive season. The estrus diagnosis of yak should be completed according to the synthetic judgment of these estrus symptoms. The estrus probably has been initiated when the volume of ovary reaching to 2.4cm and the diameter of the largest follicle up to 0.8cm in yaks. (Significance) The present study provides some important references for the estrus diagnosis in yaks. |