New (and not so new) ways to tackle oestrus detection in the dairy herd

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index is over 365 days has been estimated at £3-5 per day (Kingshay Trust 2008). Currently, the value of replacement heifers is high, so farmers often keep animals that fail to get in calf for many months rather than culling them. Poor dairy cow fertility is a major cost and national fertility figures are getting worse, with average heat detection rates at 35% and conception rates of 35-40% (Cook 2008). There are many reasons for this deterioration, particularly that many cows, particularly Holsteins, show few oestrus signs for only a short (average less than 8 hours) period, and that there is inadequate observation of cows (Fig. 1).