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. 2016 Aug 31;11(8):e0161735.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161735. eCollection 2016.

Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows

Tomohiro Yonezawa  1 , Mona Uchida  1 , Michiko Tomioka  2 , Naoaki Matsuki  1
Affiliations

Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows

Tomohiro Yonezawa et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

There is a popular belief that the lunar cycle influences spontaneous delivery in both humans and cattle. To assess this relationship, we investigated the synodic distribution of spontaneous deliveries in domestic Holstein cows. We used retrospective data from 428 spontaneous, full-term deliveries within a three-year period derived from the calving records of a private farm in Hokkaido, Japan. Spontaneous birth frequency increased uniformly from the new moon to the full moon phase and decreased until the waning crescent phase. There was a statistically significant peak between the waxing gibbous and full moon phases compared with those between the last quarter and the waning crescent. These changes were clearly observed in deliveries among multiparous cows, whereas they were not evident in deliveries among nulliparous cows. These data suggest the utility of dairy cows as models for bio-meteorological studies, and indicate that monitoring lunar phases may facilitate comprehensive understanding of parturition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Distribution of spontaneous deliveries according to the lunar cycle.
P values indicate significant differences in multi-comparison tests; n.s., not significant. Expected number of deliveries is indicated using horizontal lines: (a) total deliveries, (b) nulliparous deliveries, (c) multiparous deliveries.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Differences between actual and predicted delivery dates.
Predicted delivery dates were calculated to be 284 days after the date of the final AI. The difference in the number of days between actual and predicted delivery dates (gaps) were plotted based on the lunar phase of the predicted dates. Squares and bars indicate means and SEMs for each lunar phase. (a) total deliveries, (b) nulliparous deliveries, (c) multiparous deliveries.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Broad and detailed distribution of spontaneous deliveries within the lunar cycle.
(a) The lunar cycle separated into four phases (χ2 = 10.88, d.f. = 3, p = 0.0124). (b) The lunar cycle separated into 16 phases (χ2 = 24.86, d.f. = 15, p = 0.0519). P values indicate significant differences based on multiple-comparison tests; n.s., not significant; expected numbers of deliveries are indicated by horizontal lines.
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