The Flashmate Electronic Heat Detector is a standalone, disposable device that monitors cow heat behaviour 24/7.
Gallagher product manager Dan Loughnane says the easy-to-use device uses technology similar to the touch screen on a smartphone, which is coupled with an intelligent microchip to look for specific patterns of riding activity, including the frequency, number and length of contact. Flashmate detects an extremely high percentage of cows in heat, including those very difficult to detect using tail paint alone.
Once a heat is identified, Flashmate will flash red for 26 hours, indicating the cow is ready for artificial insemination. The device continues monitoring for subsequent heats and if the cow doesn’t return to heat after 25 days it will begin flashing green to indicate that the cow is likely pregnant.
Loughnane says if the average dairy farmer could lift their six-week in-calf rate from 65% to 75%, it would be worth an extra $60 per cow/year, which equated to about $24,000 for a typical farm.
“Because Flashmate is a standalone, one-season product, there are no set-up capital costs, with the full benefits and a huge return on investment achieved the following season.”
Easy to apply and maintain, Flashmate is placed on the cow’s back, in front of the tail head and to the side of the tail ridge.
Its simplicity and clever design means even staff with a limited understanding of heat detection can use Flashmate successfully.
“It’s like having a farmer with over 30 years of experience in heat detection sitting alongside each cow for the duration of breeding,” Loughnane says.
Flashmate will have a limited release in New Zealand this year to allow time for manufacturing processes to be scaled up, and will be fully available for the 2016-17 season.
