Nedap CowControl - the world’s most trusted cow monitoring solution
Efficient impact with Nedap CowControl and sexed semen
Results:
⦁66% conception rate on cows that got sexed semen
⦁6 week in calf rate of 80%
⦁Conception rate to first service at 65%
⦁Cost savings by abolishing the use of scratch cards, tail paint, vasectomised bulls and stock bulls
⦁Time savings
⦁More accurate use of AI straws
⦁Being able to treat cows earlier, use less intensive treatment, reduce antibiotic use and save on vet costs
⦁Integration with drafting gate for optimum efficiency
Noel Griffin and David Power were successfully using sexed semen on their maiden heifers with a few years on their farm in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford.
With conception rates of about 70% on heifers, they wanted to start using sexed semen on their 200 cows. However, as a spring calving herd, with all labour supplied by family (Noel’s wife Sinead, and their children help on farm alongside Noel and David), they felt the labour involved to ensure they got the best return from their investment in sexed semen might be hard to manage. Noel and David began to research the available heat detection systems, Nedap CowControl came out on top.
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‘We liked the simplicity of the system, and the data was displayed in a really clear accurate way. By looking at the insights on our smartphone or PC, we know exactly when the cow started her heat, and when she’s going to peak. Another advantage for us was the battery life of the system. From speaking to other farmers, we knew this could be a big issue, and we had some word-of-mouth recommendations for Nedap,’ explains David.
Nedap CowControl is the world’s most trusted cow monitoring solution. It keeps track of the reproduction and health of every cow and the entire herd, giving farmers full insight into their herd at all times to make the best informed decisions.
“If we’re investing in sexed semen, we want to give it the best chance possible to be effective, and Nedap CowControl allowed us to do that”
David and Noel installed Nedap CowControl in early January and began planning for the upcoming breeding season. The regime on farm for managing the breeding system prior to installing CowControl was labour intensive. Cows were tail-painted pre-breeding, with scratch cards and tail paint applied for the first three weeks of the breeding season. For the next four weeks, tail paint and vasectomised bulls were used to aid heat detection, before letting stock bulls run wit the cows for the final four weeks. CowControl has eliminated the need for all of that.
‘With the data from CowControl, we were able to create criteria for the best candidates for sexed semen. We decided to use 35 straws of sexed semen, and it was used on cows that had shown at least two heats pre-breeding. Then, the cows had to be close to 14 hours since the start of heat at the time of AI. I knew from research that this was the best time to inseminate with sexed semen. We didn’t use any sexed semen on first lactation cows as they usually have poor success rates with it. We achieved 66% conception rate on the cows that got sexed semen, which we were delighted with. We couldn’t have achieved these results without CowControl because it gave us the accurate data to get the timing of AI spot on, and with sexed semen that’s critical. If we’re investing in sexed semen, we want to give it the best chance possible to be effective, and CowControl allowed us to do that,’ says David.
'It just totally removed the guess work out of the breeding season.'
There are a few targets to improve efficiency that David and Noel are working towards reaching on the farm. One of the main goals was to achieve a 6 week in calf rate of 80%.
‘Based on the scanning results for the breeding season just gone, we’ve achieved that with CowControl for next year. We want everything calved by the 10th of April, and this is a pretty good step towards that,’ said David. Their conception rate to first serve was at 65%, which Noel and David attribute to having more accurate data during the pre-breeding season.
‘During pre-breeding, we were able to build up an accurate picture of what was going on with each cow, and it got rid of the uncertainty. We knew at the pre-breeding check with the vet which cows were definitely problem cows. There were no doubtful cows being checked that we weren’t sure about, or maybe ones that we just hadn’t seen bulling. It just totally removed the guess work, and as soon as we started breeding, we were able to hit the ground running,’ says David.
‘This year, the breeding season was totally different,’ explains Noel. ‘We had far less stress, there was no hopping up and down off bars to top up tail paint, and we knew exactly what was going on at all times. We had the 11 weeks done before we knew it!’
The sensitivity of the system impressed Noel and David too. ‘After we installed CowContol, there were a few cows that showed up with heat alerts early in the pre-breeding period. I dismissed the alerts when I couldn’t see many signs of her being on heat. But sure enough, three weeks later, those cows came on heat fully. That proved to me that CowControl is really accurate,’ recalls David.
'With CowControl installed, we’re saving costs and time.'
Installing Nedap CowControl has made a huge impact on the farm’s efficiency. ‘With CowControl installed, we’re saving costs and time. We’re not using scratch cards, tail paint, vasectomised bulls or stock bulls now, which is a great cost reduction,’ says David. ‘It’s freed up more time for us too; we’re not tied to the parlour every morning during pre-breeding and breeding manually checking cows.’ This year, the farm changed from using AI and stock bulls to 100% AI. Having CowControl installed has allowed much more accurate use of AI straws. ‘It’s totally eliminated the guess work.
Integrated with the drafting gate for optimum efficiency
Noel and David recently upgraded their drafting gate. Cows that are in heat or have a health issue according to the data from CowControl are automatically separated by the drafting gate. ‘The fact that the new gate integrates with CowControl makes drafting cows simple. We all know that whatever needs to be seen will be waiting in the holding pen at the end of milking,’ said David.
'Health monitoring has been a huge help this spring'
The Health Monitoring module has proved useful on farm already. Noel and David start calving from February 10th, and cows go out to grass immediately. Ketosis has normally been an issue in the herd as the cows adjust to their new diet. This year, CowControl was identifying cows that were becoming ill two or three days before they showed any symptoms. The system was highlighting cows that had a change in rumination, which David and Noel then used as a sign to treat cows. ‘We noticed straight away that we were able to treat cows earlier, use less intensive treatment, reduce antibiotic use and save on vet costs. It’s been a huge help this spring,’ explained Noel.
‘We would definitely recommend CowControl to other farmers, we wouldn’t be without it now. I think if someone was to buy the system, it would be good to install in and get collars on the cows as they’re being dried off. Then CowControl will have calibrated, and all the data will be there as soon as cows start calving,’ says David, ‘Both the system and the back-up we’ve received has been great. It’ll have paid for itself in three years easily. CowControl has allowed us to make massive improvements to our efficiency and management, and that’s invaluable to us.
Find you distributor or learn more
Nedap partners with the best milking equipment and A.I. suppliers, whose monitoring solutions are powered by Nedap CowControl. Your advantage? The most advanced and reliable technology, supported by your trusted partners and fully integrated with their solutions. Find your Irish distributor or learn more here.
You can also contact:
Donagh Crowley
Censortec LTD
NEDAP ANIMAL LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
086-8592968
Email: donagh@censortec.com
Web: www.censortec.com