For many farmers, a vasectomised bull will offer the complete solution but most will also invest in tail paint, scratch card stickers, Kamars, or maybe even fully automated collars and base stations that detect increased activity in cows coming into heat.
Automated devices mean the farmer must invest in collars or tags for cows but the labour associated with heat detection is much reduced and more time is spent watching the data produced.
GreggCare offer
€56 for four 500ml FIL Detail paint (€28/litre).€135 for 10-litre bucket of FIL Detail paint (€13.5/litre).€80 for 40 Ambic AI alert (self-adhesive capsules) (€2 each).€145 Shoof chin ball harness (paint €48.50/litre).€1.25 Ambic AI ready scratch cards.Progressive Genetics offer
€75 for roll of 100 AI tags (scratch cards) and glue (€0.75 cents each).€60 for 40 AI alert self-adhesive capsules (€1.20 each).€18 for pack of 10 or €76 for pack of 50 Estrus Alert scratch cards (€1.25 each).€24 per litre of AI paint (500ml bottle) with built-in brush.€45 for teaser bull kit (harness and two paint blocks).Munster AI offer
€150 for chinball harness and 2.5 litres of paint.€20 for Ukal bull harness for teaser bull marking blocks €3.€75 for roll of 100 E alert patches with Scotch weld glue (€0.75 each).€1.50 each for E alert heat patchesNew product
Lighting up the fields
A new heat detection aid is now available to Irish farmers. FlashMate is the brainchild of New Zealand-based company Farm Shed Labs. The FlashMate device is a sensor that monitors heat activity and flashes red for 26 hours when a heat is detected. It then continues to monitor heats for a further 25 days and will flash green if no heats were observed in the meantime.
The Flashmate device is glued on to the cow’s rump, about 10cm below the back bone and behind the hips.
Manufacturers say the device might have to be freshly glued every two weeks if cows are losing hair but the device can be reused throughout the breeding season.
Donegal-based farm supplies company GreggCare distribute the product in Ireland. At about €9 per FlashMate, it is far more expensive than tail paint or Kamars or scratch cards, but the FlashMate does last for the breeding season.
Read more
Special focus: spring AI 2017
For many farmers, a vasectomised bull will offer the complete solution but most will also invest in tail paint, scratch card stickers, Kamars, or maybe even fully automated collars and base stations that detect increased activity in cows coming into heat.
Automated devices mean the farmer must invest in collars or tags for cows but the labour associated with heat detection is much reduced and more time is spent watching the data produced.
GreggCare offer
€56 for four 500ml FIL Detail paint (€28/litre).€135 for 10-litre bucket of FIL Detail paint (€13.5/litre).€80 for 40 Ambic AI alert (self-adhesive capsules) (€2 each).€145 Shoof chin ball harness (paint €48.50/litre).€1.25 Ambic AI ready scratch cards.Progressive Genetics offer
€75 for roll of 100 AI tags (scratch cards) and glue (€0.75 cents each).€60 for 40 AI alert self-adhesive capsules (€1.20 each).€18 for pack of 10 or €76 for pack of 50 Estrus Alert scratch cards (€1.25 each).€24 per litre of AI paint (500ml bottle) with built-in brush.€45 for teaser bull kit (harness and two paint blocks).Munster AI offer
€150 for chinball harness and 2.5 litres of paint.€20 for Ukal bull harness for teaser bull marking blocks €3.€75 for roll of 100 E alert patches with Scotch weld glue (€0.75 each).€1.50 each for E alert heat patchesNew product
Lighting up the fields
A new heat detection aid is now available to Irish farmers. FlashMate is the brainchild of New Zealand-based company Farm Shed Labs. The FlashMate device is a sensor that monitors heat activity and flashes red for 26 hours when a heat is detected. It then continues to monitor heats for a further 25 days and will flash green if no heats were observed in the meantime.
The Flashmate device is glued on to the cow’s rump, about 10cm below the back bone and behind the hips.
Manufacturers say the device might have to be freshly glued every two weeks if cows are losing hair but the device can be reused throughout the breeding season.
Donegal-based farm supplies company GreggCare distribute the product in Ireland. At about €9 per FlashMate, it is far more expensive than tail paint or Kamars or scratch cards, but the FlashMate does last for the breeding season.
Read more
Special focus: spring AI 2017
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