Heat Detection

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Heat Detection

• AVS 346
• David Marcinkowski
• Extension Dairy Specialist

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Factors Affecting Heat Detection

• Cow Factors
• Environmental Factors
• People Factors

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Cow Factors

• Energy balance
• Body condition
• General health
• Vaccinations
• Feet
• Reproductive Disorders

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Environmental Factors

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Wind
• Ventilation
• Cow comfort
• Footing
• Facilities

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People Factors

• Knowledge of observers
• Number of checks per day
• Time of observations
• Record keeping
• Who is responsible
• Incentives

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Two Heat Detection Errors

• Efficiency
• Miss heat
• Costs
• Days
• Percent detected heats

• Accuracy
• Breed cow not in heat
• Costs
• Semen
• Days
• Percentage of inseminated cows in heat

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Balance
Accuracy
Efficiency
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Measures of HD Efficiency

• DIM at First Breeding
• Breeding Intervals
• Percent Confirmed on Pregnancy Checks
• DHIA Percent Detected Heats
• 24-Day Chart

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Days in Milk at First Breeding

• Measure of early heat detection
• Evaluated in relationship to Voluntary Waiting
  Period (VWP)
• Ideal is 11 days past the end of the VWP
• DIM FS ltVWP 22 Good HD
• DIM FS gtVWP 22 Poor HD

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Breeding Intervals
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Percent Confirmed on Preg. Checks
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Percent Detected Heats
(
)

• Services / Conception 21
• Days Open (VWP 10.5)

X 100
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24 Day Chart

• Low tech approach
• List of all open cycling cows in herd
• Check them off the list over the next 24 days
• Bossy
• Charlie
• Cotton
• 27106 (3 of 5 equals 60 detection rate)

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HD Efficiency Using Various Methods
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Accuracy Errors
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Causes of Accuracy Errors

• Visual observation is subjective
• Many different signs but varying reliability
• Standing to be mounted is the only definitive
  sign of heat

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Where Does Mounting Occur?
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Footing Surface and HD
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Influence of Number of Cows in Heat
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HD Myth 1 - Cows are in heat and average of 12
-18 hours

• Holstein averaged 7 hours
• Jerseys averaged 8.3 hours

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Heifer Heats Differ
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HD Myth 2 -Cows stand to be mounted 20 - 55
times.

• Holsteins averaged 7.5 mounts per estrus
• Jerseys averaged 10

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HD Myth 3 -Cows come in heat at night.

• Except for the effect of milking and feeding cows
  expressed equal heats throughout the day

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Improving Heat Detection

• Establish HD SOPs
• Utilize records
• Utilize group interactions
• Minimize sore feet
• The more time spent detecting the better
• Use timing is everything
• Location, location, location
• Use aids wisely
• If in doubt, INDUCE
• Dont take shortcuts

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Heat Detection Aids

• Emphasis on the Aid

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Tail Paint
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Estrus Alert
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Heat Mount Detectors and Tail Paint

• Inexpensive
• 24-hour observation
• Easy to interpret
• Infrequent need to replace if applied properly
• False positives or activation
• Detector loss if improperly applied Doesnt tell
  when mounting occurred
• Requires mounting by cow

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Detector Animals

• 24-hour detection
• Reduced heat detection labor
• Animal must have good feet and legs
• Costs animal, housing, feeding
• Investment in marking system
• Poor results if hormone injections are not
  followed
• Danger of aggressive animals

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Efficiency and Accuracy of HD aids
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Electrical Conductivity/Resistance

• Measures salts in the vaginal mucus
• Uses a vaginal probe
• Labor intensive
• Accurate records of daily readings
• Accuracy errors
• Risk of disease transmission is high

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Vaginal Probe (Ovatec)
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Pedometers

• 24-hour detection
• Some can pinpoint when activity started
• Decreased labor if used properly
• Component of automated ID systems in some units
• Easy to use computer software
• High initial capital investment
• Accuracy - false positives
• increased activity not always associated with
  estrus
• Need excellent records

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Automated Heat Detection
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Other Indicators of Heat
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MilkMeters
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Heat Watch
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HeatWatch Performance
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Electronic Mount Detectors

• High initial capital investment
• Computer, antenna, detectors, software
• False positives increased activity not always
  associated with estrus
• Excellent records for moving units from cow to
  cow
• On-going investment in patches to house devices
• Requires mounting by cow