Heat detection: recognising signs of oestrus
Heat detection means recognising when a female is in oestrus, or heat, so you can time breeding correctly. Signs include restlessness, standing to be mounted, mounting other animals and changes around the vulva. Check animals frequently and note the time you see each sign to build a clear picture.
How do timed checks help breeding?
For example, a farm checks the herd three times a day and notes when each heat sign appears. Everyone involved in breeding can then see which animals showed signs in the morning or evening.
How can HerdMobile help?
Use HerdMobile to note heat signs for each animal and keep track of insemination dates. Looking back at both helps you plan the next check with the animal's history in mind.
Questions from the farm
How often should you check for heat?
Checking several times a day usually helps you spot more heats. Choose times that fit your farm's available labour, and note when you make each check.
What if you miss a heat?
Note the next heat you see and the time since the previous one. An unusually long gap can point to a missed heat and help you plan closer checks next time.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
Use HerdMobile to note when each animal shows heat signs and follow its insemination dates. Comparing morning and evening observations helps everyone involved in breeding see when most heats are spotted and plan future checks around the herd.
