Using Moocall Heat detection technology to reduce the calving interval and enable the use of AI in suckler herds
This good practice was collected from a farmer in Ireland who raises 50 suckler cows, mainly Limousin, Belgium Blue and Angus cross, selling weanling and yearling animals at his local livestock mart. With a view to increasing productivity and quality, he wanted to move to using artificial insemination but heat detection was proving extremely difficult because he was working off farm. Therefore, the farmer purchased the Moocall Heat detection technology in 2019. The automated system consists in using ear tags on the cows and collars in a vasectimised bull. The heat cow is detected based on the bull´s activity, his proximity and the time he spends with it, the mounting behaviour. The system sends a text message to the farmer’s phone when the cow is in heat and the app provides all the essential breeding data for each cow. The heat detection technology has facilitated the move to artificial insemination in the herd, thereby increasing the choice and quality of sire to be used. The labour and time input on heat detection has reduced and what was an almost impossible task has become easy. In the first year using the system, 65% of the cows were inseminated with artificial insemination. In year 2, this increased to 80%, with a stock bull used to tidy up the herd. Calving interval was reduced to 358 days for 95% of the herd. The use of artificial insemination has increased calf quality and the average daily gain, resulting in heavier weanlings at sale. The farm also uses the Moocall calving sensor, which is very beneficial as he lives away from the farmyard. He estimates it saves up to 2 calves at birth each year contributing significantly in terms of economic sustainability and animal health and welfare.
BovINE - Beef Innovation Network Europe
Ongoing | 2020-2022
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Ireland