Tail paint in autumn calving cows

[garethpjones]

We are going into our third season of serving our 300 cow autumn calving herd. We did RMS for year 1 but decided to do our own heat detection last year. We used a mixed of tail paint, 2nd hand Moomonitors and walking through cows 2-3 tmes daily.

This year I'm using Donaghys oil based paint to do prematings at the moment. Similar to last year, I don't feel the paint is coming off enough. I have been more careful in brushing forward this year but paint still not coming off. Is it the type of paint or is the fact that the cows are in (rather than being out in damp weather such as spring calvers would be/naturally loosing coat)?

The moomonitors seem to just be in constant need of new batteries or the signal eventually just dies- they work well when alive but obviously useless whe not. Jury still out.

Considering using scratchies on the heifers, glued on with karmar glue.

What do others do/recommend?

 

[YELROM]

Scratch cards stuck on with spray carpet glue and FIL tail paint

 

[garethpjones]

And use both together? FIL detail or FIL Tell tail?

 

[YELROM]

We use Estrotect scratch cards and i think its FIL detail but will check

 

[som farmer]

estrotect with carpet glue off e'bay, tail paint as well if you want either end of strip, just gives you a better idea, of the is she/isn't she ones.

 

[dairyrow]

LIC 24 heat patches get free glue carpet glue as well £1.20 each with a tin of carpet glue

 

[frederick]

Are you all using scratch cards on Autumn Calvers. My understanding is they are not so good when houses.

I simply chalk every morning after milking.

 

[YELROM]

I don't think scratch cards are as good when housed but find them easier to read than tail paint

 

[Farmer Keith]

Find the donaghys tail paint works well on autumn calvers here however I do have an outside feeding yard and 90% of the bullers are roaming around out there so maybe they express more bulling behaviour out there. If the paints not rubbing off it does suggest they’re not jumping very much, I only have 130 cows.

 

[farmerman]

Do people find in summer when you use scratch cards that can get false readings? Iv found that with fly’s being around and tails wafting all day that soon the scratch cards are red and you think there’s no signs of bullimg or her being jumped when checking so why’s it gone red soon found out that’s the reason.. also the tail paint how long does it last on a cow for? We’re not dairy we are commercial men but have pedigrees too so like to ai but obviously there not running day in day out of a parlour to reapply the tail paint.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Do people find in summer when you use scratch cards that can get false readings? Iv found that with fly’s being around and tails wafting all day that soon the scratch cards are red and you think there’s no signs of bullimg or her being jumped when checking so why’s it gone red soon found out that’s the reason.. also the tail paint how long does it last on a cow for? We’re not dairy we are commercial men but have pedigrees too so like to ai but obviously there not running day in day out of a parlour to reapply the tail paint.

depends on the cow but I’m probably re-applying some at around a week.

 

[som farmer]

Do people find in summer when you use scratch cards that can get false readings? Iv found that with fly’s being around and tails wafting all day that soon the scratch cards are red and you think there’s no signs of bullimg or her being jumped when checking so why’s it gone red soon found out that’s the reason.. also the tail paint how long does it last on a cow for? We’re not dairy we are commercial men but have pedigrees too so like to ai but obviously there not running day in day out of a parlour to reapply the tail paint.

we had a jersyx hfr, that decided she liked licking and nibbling them, made things difficult, but our AI man was excellent, wouldn't serve if he didn't think she was on, one of the reasons we used paint as well, she didn't like the taste of that, so, pretty red scratchie, plus tail paint rub = serve, part red, with paint, doubtful.

 

[dairyrow]

Are you all using scratch cards on Autumn Calvers. My understanding is they are not so good when houses.

I simply chalk every morning after milking.

Yes. Find they work fine. Just some times cant get them to stick well enough on some cows. Put sheep paste on them for the repeats after. Have bought some more patches this year. They've got me up over +80% served in 3 weeks. Just hope they hold

 

[YELROM]

Checked and it's FIL tell tail that we use

@garethpjones what does/did RMS cost

 

[Rossymons]

@garethpjones what does/did RMS cost

Too much

 

[buffalo_soldier]

This will be my 3rd season on scratch cards. Prefer it to paint, for me anyway.
Lifted heat detection rates above that of paint alone.

An option I used before scratch cards was paint and a couple of teaser bulls. Also works well.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

My cows seem to have gone very quiet recently and not bulling hard, had a trace sure bolus 3 weeks before calving, milking well and fed well, would it be worth doing some bloods?