Thursday, 08 July 2021 14:55

Heat detection made easier

Written by  Mark Daniel
A new tool has been launched to make heat detection easier. A new tool has been launched to make heat detection easier.

First shown on the Virtual Fieldays 2020 platform, the Tailpainter heat detection tool is now complemented by the Dairy Paint tallpaing range, which made it's debut at the 2021 physical event.

A vibrant, water based and non-toxic paint available in four colours, the paint is formulated for ease of use and with a bright pigment for easy reading of silent heats.

“We are delighted to offer New Zealand farmers a complete heat detection solution,” says co-founder Liam O’Keeffe. “Covid has left farmers with less available labour so an easy-to-use tool that cuts down labour time and maximises herd production is more necessary now than ever".

The Tailpainter also helps farmers by supporting block breeding and increasing herd productivity, by consolidating the calving season into a period of as close as possible to six weeks. This helps maximise the production of milk and calves from their herd, with each cow producing a calf and maximising milking production pretty much on a cycle of exactly every 12 months.

Key to achieving this 12-month cycle is effective heat detection practice, with every cycle missed extending the 365-day target. Closing this gap with effective heat detection, together with the correct timing of AI using top genetics, the elimination of stock bulls and ensuring best practice in nutrition management, represents a significant increased profit opportunity for the New Zealand farmer.

“We are delighted with the feedback from our existing customers who are realising real benefits including ease and speed of tail paint application. The difference is the farmer now spends his time observing cows and not on strenuous tail painting, resulting in improved heat detection and more compact calving,” adds Liam O’Keeffe.

“The real trick here is to ensure that the paint quality is always in good condition before the cow leaves the parlour, topping up the paint regularly. This routine removes any guessing from heat detection; the paint has to be in good condition at all times during the breeding season and therefore also allows for detection for so called non-cyclers.”

More like this

Still feeding minerals like its 1991?

We've come a long way in dairy farming over the past couple of decades. Genetics are better, sheds are more modern and we have more data at our fingertips than ever before.

Health checks for cows now simpler, faster, and tailored

At the heart of the SmaXtec system is the ability to monitor animal health, including early disease detection, alongside reproduction issues such as heat identification, optimal insemination windows, calving notifications-on average 15 hours before the eventalongside abortion detection and fertility issues.

Featured

Big return on a small investment

Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.

Editorial: Sensible move

OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Cuddling cows

OPINION: Years of floods and low food prices have driven a dairy farm in England's northeast to stop milking its…

Bikinis in cowshed

OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter