It even drafts them at the end of milking to a separate pen, ready for artificial breeding.
Protrack EZ Heat is installed as part of the Protrack Vantage system. The EZ Heat component includes a camera in the shed which takes pictures of the heat patches on the back of each cow that passes the camera during milking and checks whether the heat patch has been activated, as a sign of oestrous.
This information is sent to the shed’s Protrack computer, and if the patch has been activated or is missing the cow is drafted for attention at the end
of milking.
Trialled since 2011, it has achieved 99.9% accuracy, says LIC’s farm automation manager, Garth Anderson.
“Farmers in the trial reported easier mating periods, more accurate heat detection, increased submission rates and reduced reliance on staff.
“Some also increased AI usage, as the system took the stress out of mating, and reduced bull numbers, some using none at all.
“We made some tweaks and refinements throughout the trial process.”
The Protrack EZ Heat system was displayed at the recent field days in Waikato.
