New heat detection technology "flashmate"

[Clay52]

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

You are making these claims. So you are happy to parrot these claims for the product without any actual evidence yourself.

 

[Clay52]

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

Don't even use them. Kamars are just the cheap comparison that does the same job as these things you are talking about.

 

[Clay52]

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

Untrained people AIing cows based on a disposable LED light. The key to high preg rates. If I only knew this years ago.

 

[bovine]

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.

So, you are saying they are new, lots have been sold and therefore you think they are worth a try?

In which case, good luck to you and let us know how you get on. The problem is you are quoting figures and making them sound like the solution to all your fertility ills, which no single product is. Perhaps you are convincing yourself, as you've already spent the money? I don't know.

My worry is when people come along and read the thread without doing any due diligence and then rush out to buy such a system that we've seen no substantiation for the figures.

Imagine for a moment I was your vet, we are sitting down and chatting about improvement in fertility for the next breeding season in your herd. If I was to recommend this product to you, how much information would you have expected me to see to make that recommendation to you?

 

[Yeti]

Bovine, you do talk a lot of sense and I agree with your points in the main. No heat product solves fertility issues, I completely agree, they only improve heat detection.

Unfortunately Clay52 seems to only want to argue and make patronising comments and does not want to have a sensible conversation.

I will give them a try on a small percentage of the herd and see how things go.

 

[jerseycowsman]

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.

To be honest, I can't believe anyone still uses kamars, all that messy glue and bang it on a cubicle getting up and it looks like she is bulling.
At least start using the tail paint or estrotect scratch cards, both far more reliable than ancient kamars

 

[Clay52]

Bovine, you do talk a lot of sense and I agree with your points in the main. No heat product solves fertility issues, I completely agree, they only improve heat detection.

Unfortunately Clay52 seems to only want to argue and make patronising comments and does not want to have a sensible conversation.

I will give them a try on a small percentage of the herd and see how things go.

Patronizing. You are the one suggesting anyone that doesn't believe these things are awesome is left behind in the dark ages.

 

[RushesToo]

Why is everyone going to throwing toys out of the pram so quickly?

If you have fertility problems you need to do something. Use the common sense approach of tried and tested mechanism to improve it and start with the cheapest per cow. What this is will depend on your circumstances - and a vet will help [no commission from @bovine BTW].

You would naturally start with the most cost effective thing - this is what these people https://www.nice.org.uk/ do for humans.

cheap likely things to work:
Nutrition / deficiencies,
Heat detection
genetics

For all of these you should start with the one that you can afford that is most proven, in other words the lowest cost per effectiveness. Few will start with the most extreme and expensive solutions if they haven't tried the simple ones first. No one extracts an infected tooth [expensive] they try antibiotics, if that doesn't work then you may end up with the expensive extraction.

It's not rocket science, do the most cost effective ones first then try the expensive ones.

 

[RushesToo]

But mostly keep calm stay friendly and stay open to advantages new technology brings - IF cost effective.

 

[In the pit]

Nothing's beats knowing your cows and using your eyes
Paint ,kamars and all other gadgets are an aid to heat detection.
If you've got fertility problems is it conception rate or submission rates

 

[Clay52]

Nothing's beats knowing your cows and using your eyes
Paint ,kamars and all other gadgets are an aid to heat detection.
If you've got fertility problems is it conception rate or submission rates

Yep. You have to pinpoint the reasons for the poor fertility. A heat detection system isn't going to help if that's not the issue despite what the salesman says.