Monday, 02 September 2019 09:30

Empty rates down

Written by 
Becky Corlett. Becky Corlett.

Heat detection technology has helped two Taranaki farmers to cut their herd’s empty rate from 16% to 11% in its first season, says the supplier, Gallagher Group.

Becky Corlett and David Knowles sharemilk 600 cows on his parents’ 230ha farm (DAK Dairying Ltd) at Stratford.

The farm uses Gallagher’s FlashMate electronic heat detector pads to monitor cows’ behaviour when on heat – and to signal what’s going on by the pads’ flashing lights. 

Corlett says the pads cost more than their usual scratch pads or tail paint, but it has paid for itself with better in-calf rates and a shorter calving season.

“It was worth it,” Corlett said. “We had a 5% decrease in our empty rate -- down to just below 11%. That means fewer cull cows, hopefully more replacement calves and a shorter calving period, as we have a lot of cows due within the first six weeks.”

Before using the pads their empty rate had climbed to a record 16%.

 “We were all upset with that result,” Corlett said. “It was a tough season bad weather-wise and it seemed our cows weren’t coming onto heat or we were missing them.”

A neighbour had been using the pads so they decided to try them.

“Just the drop in the empty rate is enough to pay for it,” Corlett said. 

“At 4am, even when you’re tired, it’s hard to miss a red flashing light. You don’t have to read a scratch pad. You still need a level of skill in reading a cow, but 90% of the job is done for you.”

The staff use a curry comb two days before applying the pads, removing excess hair from the cow’s rump, and so allowing the pads to stick close to the skin. 

More like this

Water levels on farms monitored from space

Gallagher Group has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Australian company Gasbot to introduce a satellite- based liquid monitoring system to the New Zealand market.

New sales head at Gallagher’s

Darrell Jones has been appointed national sales manager of Gallagher Group's New Zealand animal management team. He has worked 14 years with the company.

Innovative solutions on show

Gallagher Group has always been at the forefront of innovations and effective solutions for livestock farmers.

Featured

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

DairyNZ plantain trials cut nitrate leaching by 26%

DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter