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that security of knowing if she actually was in heat.
Easy to interpret data allows farmers, AI technicians and vets to quickly share knowledge on heats, suspect heats or low activity cows.
on submission rates, we were serving lots of cows to estrotect stickers, but they weren’t actually in true heat. Since using Precision, we have been serving the right cows and we are getting more pregnancies from fewer straws.”
As the blue PinPoint collars went on the cows and the Cogent reproductive technicians began to work in partnership with the expert vet team of Langford Vet Services, as well as the specialists within the veterinary school, the fertility of the herd started to change. “Before we started using Precision, too many of our exits were empty cows and we had to give up on a lot that could still be milking today. With the system now in place, we are already seeing a reduction in that and the herd is getting where it needs to be. Most are being served to natural heats rather than forced intervention and we have fewer cows coming back round for vet treatment.” It is that aspect of support from every corner that has been one of the big benefits of using Precision for David and his team. “All cows are checked by the Precision technicians before they are served which is the bit we were missing before. So often we would think she is in heat and get her in the pen to be served without having
“It would be too easy for us to stay hands-off because we know it works, but I think keeping in touch with the technical team gives us the edge. Maintaining that dialogue is so important because it means nothing is getting missed and if that gains us a pregnancy a month it will make a big difference.” For David, seeing how the system has benefited the staff and students of Bristol University has also been one of the key values of Precision. The most significant feature is that fertility gets the same attention seven days a week regardless of staff holidays. “The technology has allowed us to spend more time on other areas of herd management as well as the other aspects of fertility management and staff are gaining motivation from having the right tools to get the cows in calf.”
As an educational facility, David explains that the system forms an integral part of student studies as well. “It’s easy to explain how it works because you can see it in action and it allows us to put protocols for fertility in place so cows don’t get missed. In the future, we are looking to use PD+ to provide a data file for student access
which will allow them to look into conception rates, fertility highs or lows and why we see variations without actually corrupting the system.” Going forward David is optimistic about the future fertility of the herd at Wyndhurst with plans already in place to start using sexed semen on the maiden heifers. “We never had the confidence to do that before, but now we are getting the kind of results that even if we did have a slight reduction in pregnancy rate from using sexed semen, it wouldn’t be a huge panic. We are now more able to manage the fertility and the extra milk sales we can achieve would make up for any slight drop.” “Investing in the Precision service has given us options and put our fertility exactly where we always thought it could be. For us, it has completed the picture and allowed the herd to reach its full potential.”
Precision allows more eligible animals to be served resulting in an increase in fertility and pregnancy rates.
David Hichens from Bristol
University’s Wundhurst Farm opted for Precision in August 2014.
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