Scratch Cards & Chin Ball harness as an Aid in Heat Detection

16 May 2012

On a farm visit in County Cork where a dairy farmer presented over 100 cows for reproductive assessment three weeks into his breeding programme. He wanted to address late calving cows, the reproductive status of the cows which he had bred and early pregnancy diagnosis. He then showed me a group of maiden heifers which were running with a teaser bull. He made a point which I consider now very valid that the most accurate assessment of maiden heifers in heat is the use of scratch cards in conjunction with the chin ball harness on a teaser bull. These two aids give close to 100% accuracy to the timing of heat in maiden heifers.

Testimonials

We use Reprodoc to assess reproductive status of cows post calving, prior to breeding and for reproductive status during the breeding programme. Reprodoc fertility management programme is an excellent biomarker for the well-being of our herd.

We can assess if there are underlying stressors at various stages of the reproductive cycle.

We rely on Reprodoc to give us accurate ageing and sexing of pregnancies for when the stock bulls are running with the herd for the purpose of drying off cows and for managing cows in the close up period to calving.

David Thompson
Strabane, Co. Tyrone