SmaXtec bolus for heat detection?
- Thread starter PREES
- Start date
Kingofgrass
Member
There’s some reviews somewhere on the internet slating it saying it’s crap
@Kingofgrass ? I have been looking but can't find anything significant other than their own (obviously positive) customer reviews on their website! I think Mole Valley were selling them?
- Location
- cornwall
We’ve been using it for 4 years with one in every cow. Takes a bit of time to get used to and to adjust to the behaviours of your cows etc. But it’s like having an extra person watching the cows now. Found many cases of mastitis, pneumonia etc at least 12 earlier than normal. Heat detection is 95 to 99% accurate.
But for us, the best thing is the calving alerts. In 98% of cows there is a significant temperature drop about 36 to 4 hours before calving. We have become totally reliant on the boluses for this and calving is fair less stressful now, meaning we have the right cows in the calving pen
After the above glowing report I googled said bolus. Is £70 cow really what they cost?
- Location
- cornwall
Yep, worth every penny, how much would an extra person cost watching the cows compared to one of these in each of your in calf heifers every year?
Last edited:
There seems to be an option to purchase a bolus @ £30 each and pay £3/month for lifetime replacements. Not sure what straight purchase costs and whether there are any other benefits from the hire scheme other than possibly cashflow. A bolus is claimed to last 4-5 years. @jerseycowsman have you had to replace any blouses yet? Do you get an alarm to tell you that you need to add a bolus? Does anyone know whether there any issues through overuse of blouses what with one sort or another!
- Location
- cornwall
We get them back from our local one ok
- Location
- cornwall
Any that have gone wrong before 4 years have been replaced free of charge, which is about 5 to 10% of them. Just on 4 years now for the first batch that went in, so watch this space
- Location
- cornwall
I don’t keep track now as we are paying a monthly fee instead and they just replace them whenever.
Also, we have put all the second generation rumination ones in now, they are only 12 months old, so, basically starting again.
supercow
Member
- Location
- Dumfriesshire
Barmyfarmer
Member
Im sure when I got a quote it was like £14k a year on 150 cows or something ridiculous like that, I remember thinking poor fertility might be better value
No we went for Cow Manager. The jury is still out as to whether we did the right thing but primarily I think we need to become more competent in interpreting the data.
- Location
- cornwall
We are paying £800 over 300 cows a month
supercow
Member
- Location
- Dumfriesshire
That’s a bit of money! Agreed it’s like another person on the farm, but they don’t replace another person
supercow
Member
- Location
- Dumfriesshire
I’m almost solely reliant on the collars detecting heats now, got some collars on maiden heifers in youngstock shed what a difference that makes!saves so much time watching them! The health side of the allflex collars Iv still to decide. It only really picks up ecoli cows and milk fever risks. Which is the 2 biggies IMO but could do with it picking up minor mastitis and cows gradually going lame. Are you happy with cow manager
I don't think we are getting the best out of it yet so it would be unfair to judge, we are about to start breeding so we may be in a better position to comment in 12 weeks time
The London Palladium event “BPR Seminar”
This is our next step following the London rally 
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
lwtheatres.co.uk
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
BPR Summit | LW Theatres
lwtheatres.co.uk