heat detection strips

[old timer]

Not too long ago someone posted about some heat detection strips that worked kind of like a scratch off lotto ticket.  I was wanting to try them, but cant find the post.  Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[jbw]

Estrus Alert pactches, they work great, make sure they are hot when you put them on and the cows are clean, Been using them for 4-5 years. The guy that invented them was in high school at the time. I met his brother in San Antonio. Any semen supplier should be able to get them.  PM me if you can't I have 2-300 of them here.

 

[orwell]

There is actualy another kind that we use. They are called Kamar, but you need to use glue and its a bit of a hassel when it is cold out cus the glue freezes so quick.

 

[Spenrod]

http://www.steerplanet.com/bb/index.php?topic=10155.0

 

[jbw]

Kamar are not the scratch off lottery ticket style. The only problem that I have with the Kamar is that Iif one jumps on a cow that is not in heat, the Kamar will rupture and give you a false read. The Estrus Alert patches show more the more they are rubbed.  They are really nice for a quick ID when sorting out of larger groups for AIing.

 

[Show Heifer]

Hint: When applying the patches in questionable wheather, such as dirty hair, shedding hair, damp, cold etc.... spray some leg/tail adhesive on the hair then apply the patch.
I can almost garantee they will not come off (even when you want them to!!)

They work well, but they do NOT replace the ol' eye balls!!

 

[bcosu]

Hint: When applying the patches in questionable wheather, such as dirty hair, shedding hair, damp, cold etc.... spray some leg/tail adhesive on the hair then apply the patch.
I can almost garantee they will not come off (even when you want them to!!)

that works really well, especially if you aren't sure how long the patch will be on. they are nice if you can't check them for long periods of time either. we get spread out planting and other stuff and we can't always just sit and watch so we keep track of how much gray is worn off the patches every so often. if you see some worn off then it's time to watch.

 

[jbw]

They really work good on getting you to the 'group' faster, and maybe catching a couple that would sneek by through the night. But, you're right, eyeballs are the best.

 

[Okie Boy]

None of them are fool proof ( am I the fool?) after the first rush of cows in heat I have a hard time with any detection system ( even the eyes).  If the cows wont jump neither scratcf off or kmar will tell you much.  I know I missed many heats this year and years past that were just slightly scratched. With kmar they might be slightly colored but not completely.  If no other cow will cooperate they just dont tell you much.

 

[inthebarnagain]

A lot of it also is making sure you have put them in the correct location, too far forward and the shorter cows won't rub it, too far back and the tailhead blocks it from getting contact also. 

On cows that you can easily get your hands on the tattletales work great.  Kind of like a self-contained heat watch.  The only downside is that you have to be able to touch it to reset it if they set it off with a false alarm or if they are creative tree scratchers!