DHIA records indicate that the level of detected heats is about 50%. This means that one out of every two heats routinely goes unnoticed. Here are a couple of tips to make sure that heat detection is being performed correctly on your farm or ranch.
- Know the signs of heat!
Standing to be mounted is the primary sign of heat, but secondary signs
of heat can include: riding other cows,
bellowing or bawling, displaying signs of nervousness, sniffing the vulva or
urine of other animals, having a pink and swollen vulva with a clear mucous
discharge, having a rough tail head, chin rubbing, or they seem to be searching
for something.
- Take the time to accurately detect heat and only detect heat!
People who are in charge of heat
detection need to make heat detection their only priority when it comes time
for heat detection. They should position
themselves in “hotspots” in the pen.
“Hotspots” are places where there is good footing where cows will gather
to show mounting activity. The observer
should be positioned in a place where the cow’s id is easy to read. Heat detection should occur 2-3 times per day
for at least 20 minutes.
- Heat detect at the right time!
Research indicates that more than
70% of the mounting activity takes place between 7:00 at night and 7:00
in the morning. Factors such as high
temperature, humidity, wind, and rain tend to inhibit the expression of heat
during midday hours. The moral of the story, you should make sure
that out of the 2-3 times you heat detect each day, one should be in the late
evening hours and one should be in the early morning hours. This will ensure that you are heat detecting
at the times when you are likely to see the most cows in heat.
While nothing
replaces actually seeing and identifying the cow in heat Genex offers several
heat detection aids to help simplify heat detection. These heat detection aids include DETAIL™
Tail Paint, Kamar® Heatmount Detectors, EstroTects™ and PaintStiks.
The newest heat
detection aids available through Genex are DeLaval Activity Systems. Because cows in heat tend to have activity
levels of 2.5-3 times their average day, activity systems are a good option as
a heat detection aid. Also, since reduced
daily activity may indicate health issues; these activity systems also have
benefits from a herd health stand point.
The system's ability to detect estrus early and accurately facilitates
timely artificial insemination and helps lower reproduction costs by reducing
days open and services per conception. The activity system even detects weak
heat signs, the so-called "silent heats."
Written by: Sarah Thorson
Beef Education Manager
