It is all about getting cows pregnant - checklist

This tailstriping decision guide will bring success for your team.

There are five secondary signs that cows are in estrus:

1. Crayon rubbed off
2. Mucus, ruffled hairs and dirt over back and sides
3. Swollen vulva
4. Internal red vulva
5. Record indicating normal heat cycle.

If 3 of the 5 signs are present, the cow should be inseminated. Some breeders palpate uterine tone and some palpate for mucus, but even if you do not find tone and mucus but find 3 out of the 5 signs mentioned above, the cow should be inseminated. Crayon aided heat detection is very subjective and needs to be matched with 3 out of 5 signs mentioned above. Normal heat detection rate in the Western United States is about 65% because crayon is the main aid used for heat detection. With the use of pedometers it can go up to 80%.

Article by Dr. A.P. Phatak
AltaPreg Field Fertility Specialist

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Posted Oct 7th

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