New heat detection technology "flashmate"

[bovine]

Where do you get the cheapest tail paint?

That's a pretty crap question. I hope you mean 'what is the best tail paint, that will allow me to find the maximum numbers of cows bulling and get them in calf'?

Does it really matter whether it's £5,10 or 20 a pot when it's still only pence per cow and the value of successful conception is many multiples greater?

 

[Yeti]

You've misinterpreted what I said. The question was to the previous thread. Everyone on here is so defensive!

 

[Clay52]

You've misinterpreted what I said. The question was to the previous thread. Everyone on here is so defensive!

More that it's hard enough to make money as it is in diary without throwing money at every new magic bullet without fully going through if it is going to do what the salesman promises.

So far not seeing benifit over current cheaper options.

 

[Yeti]

I'm not a salesman so I don't know all the answers. People need to stop being defensive look at their farm and decide whether they are happy earning what they earn. If they are then fine, if not then look to the future. Either way is fine by me

 

[Clay52]

I'm not a salesman so I don't know all the answers. People need to stop being defensive look at their farm and decide whether they are happy earning what they earn. If they are then fine, if not then look to the future. Either way is fine by me

You are talking about this like it's guaranteed to improve preg rates. Still haven't given us a reason why it should.

You are also using the salesman tactic of talking about the future and convincing farmers if they don't use this product they are left in the dark ages.

If you spend more on a product that doesn't do a better job than old technology you are not making more money. Circuits batteries and LED lights don't guarantee profit.

 

[Yeti]

All I'm saying is I'm open to new technology and I'm willing to try new things. For those who are happy doing what they do, who may not being in the top 10% for profitability, but are lucky enough to own the farm and are doing ok, then good luck to them.

If this delivers a benefit then many will be willing to try it and will embrace technology to move forward.

I don't fall out with any view point at all. Each to their own, I'm fine with that.

 

[Clay52]

All I'm saying is I'm open to new technology and I'm willing to try new things. For those who are happy doing what they do, who may not being in the top 10% for profitability, but are lucky enough to own the farm and are doing ok, then good luck to them.

If this delivers a benefit then many will be willing to try it and will embrace technology to move forward.

I don't fall out with any view point at all. Each to their own, I'm fine with that.

Asking how is it going to improve fertility doesn't mean I am not open to new things. You will go broke trying every new thing pretty quick. There has to be a reason to try it. Being new doesn't guarantee profit.

What has this product got to do with being in the top 10% for profitability. You can't even tell me how it is going to be better than what we already have available.

 

[Irish NZ]

Ouch. So if that's what you are relying on to detect heats it will probably lower your 6 week incalf rate. Also it's hard to determine false positives if all you have is a flashing light to go on.

It's hard to beat tail paint and a set of eyes.

And it costs you ten times more for the privilege

 

[Clay52]

And it costs you ten times more for the privilege

So it's not just me that thinks this.

People need to remember these new technologies are first and foremost sold to make money for the company selling them, not the farmer. There is no guarantee they will make the farmer more money.

 

[Yeti]

I'm no salesman. Read for yourself and make your own mind up.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/77027981/flash-new-heat-detection-device

 

[Clay52]

I'm no salesman. Read for yourself and make your own mind up.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/77027981/flash-new-heat-detection-device

Nothing there to indicate why there should be any improvement over kmars and paint.

 

[Yeti]

If you're hitting 85% 6WICR with Kamar and paint I agree stick with it.

If not, then improvements can be made. This is not the silver bullet, but worth trying to see if improvements can be made. That's all I'm saying.

Many in NZ have improved their figures by using this. I'm keen to learn and improve. I'm not a salesman I'm a progressive thinker with technology. Make your own mind up and do what ever is right for your farm.

 

[Clay52]

If you're hitting 85% 6WICR with Kamar and paint I agree stick with it.

If not, then improvements can be made. This is not the silver bullet, but worth trying to see if improvements can be made. That's all I'm saying.

Many in NZ have improved their figures by using this. I'm keen to learn and improve. I'm not a salesman I'm a progressive thinker with technology. Make your own mind up and do what ever is right for your farm.

Doesn't matter what your 6 week incalf rate is. Give me one reason why this should increase your incalf rate over kmars and paint.

You say you are a thinker but if you are a thinker you would have thought of a logical reason why this product should improve what you can achieve over exsisting methods. I'm still waiting for your thinking.

There is nothing special about this product. It's just an heat detection aid. If heat detection isn't an issue it's not going to help one bit. If heat detection is an issue I can't see it doing any better than kmars unless you can give a reason why.

 

[Yeti]

1) it's more visible
2) It's got better technology and is more accurate to detect heats through an electronic chip that monitors algorithms which alerts through the red flashing light
3) it's clinically proven to improve heat detection by 6% minimum
4) it can even be seen in the dark so you can't miss a cow showing heat
5) it's more accurate than some other systems
6) it's been used on over 200, 000 cows in NZ and Austrailia and has been shown to increase the 6 WICR over other systems
7) you don't need trained staff to spot heats, if the light is flashing, serve the cow
8) it's simple if the light is flashing, serve the cow
9) it takes the guess work out of heat detection
10) 200,000 cows can't be wrong

The bottom line is do what's right for your farm, but for those who want to improve and be more profitable, this may be worth trying to convince yourself as to whether there is a better way of monitoring heat detection.

 

[Clay52]

1) But of no benifit, you only need to see a meter or two in the dairy. 300m away you can't tell what cow it is anyway especially in the dark.

2) better than what. Technology gets heat detection wrong all the time. Ask anyone with heat detection systems. Just because it uses motion detection doesn't mean it's perfect. Have the cows break a fence down and run around all night and tell me how accurate it is.

3) clinically proven. Lol. Good one.

4) what benifit is that. You need to be able to record the number. Again no better than kmars on the parlour.

5) says who? You

6) sure it has. Show us the research

7) you always need trained staff. All systems have false positives and negatives.

8) just as good as a kmar and paint.

9) just as good as a kmar and paint

10) they sure can. Especially when the company selling you the product is giving you the "evidence" of how well they work.



I have a question for you. What are you making per unit.

 

[bovine]

Is there any published work on the product? Where has the 6% improvement in heat detection been found and compared to which other systems/aids? What other systems has this been compared to, to give the improved accuracy claim? Where is the data, what is the false positive and false negative rate for this device?

I'm unconvinced that anything is as simple as serving cows with a flashing light - every method of heat detection throws up false positive results, ie alerts to cows not actually bulling. We know inseminating these animals has a high risk of causing abortion. You can't dumb this down too much.

I remember 15/20 years ago Genus pushing a Kamar type device that actually lit up like a red glow stick. I don't think they caught on.

@Clay52 posted as I was typing

 

[Yeti]

I'm not making anything. I'm not a salesman I'm a farmer! I'm saying I've got an open mind to try new products to improve efficiency. I'm not knocking any other product I'm just willing to give them a go.

You may have an 85% 6WICR and if you do you're doing a fantastic job. Unfortunately many don't have that and need to look for new ideas and I'm one of those.

The UK national average is 65%, which means some are lower than that figure. That is not efficient and trying to improve has to be a good thing for the industry. To argue against that is lunacy.

You stick to Kamar if it works. I don't knock anyone doing what is right for them, but I don't support negativity, there's too many people stuck in a rut losing money. Those who are willing to move forward, be progressive and be open minded with new ideas will be the ones who succeed.

 

[Yeti]

I think your all getting confused here. Ask the manufacturer, not me!

 

[Clay52]

I'm not making anything. I'm not a salesman I'm a farmer! I'm saying I've got an open mind to try new products to improve efficiency. I'm not knocking any other product I'm just willing to give them a go.

You may have an 85% 6WICR and if you do you're doing a fantastic job. Unfortunately many don't have that and need to look for new ideas and I'm one of those.

The UK national average is 65%, which means some are lower than that figure. That is not efficient and trying to improve has to be a good thing for the industry. To argue against that is lunacy.

You stick to Kamar if it works. I don't knock anyone doing what is right for them, but I don't support negativity, there's too many people stuck in a rut losing money. Those who are willing to move forward, be progressive and be open minded with new ideas will be the ones who succeed.

Nothing about the product is going to give you a 85% 6 week in calf rate on its own. It's going to be lucky if it can give any boost at all. Your claims of using untrained staff will guarantee your incalf rate will drop.

i never said you shouldn't try to improve. I said this isn't going to improve over current cheaper methods.

To improve you need to use productive methods. Just using something because it's new is money down the drain.

All sounds very much like a salesman. Wonder product that can do no wrong. Lol.

 

[Yeti]

You sound like you work for Kamar! no wonder you're knocking it lol!