Estrus detection aids

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nmcattle

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Feb 2, 2010
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Has anyone used the "standing heat" estrus detectors that are advertised on here? I have been using estrotects with success but the standing heat product looks interesting. I'm always looking for an improvement. Any thoughts or recommendations?
 

nmcattle

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Feb 2, 2010
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I thought about that also. With them being cheaper it might be worth buying the adhesive separate, although not as convenient.
 

smo

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Jun 6, 2011
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where does every one get there estro tecks at cause i cant find any where to order them besides sullivans
 

gary89

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Dec 25, 2009
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Do a google search and you will find them.I am pretty sure Valley vet has them. They are like $1.00 each box of 50.I am going to try these new ones and see how I get along.
 

firesweepranch

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Jun 17, 2010
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SW MO
Doc said:
Use orange ground marking paint from Wal-mart. $5 will cover about 20 cows.

We just use a grease livestock marker. So much easier, since I can just sneak up behind the cows and chalk if one gets rubbed by trees or licked off. One marker is about $1.50, and does tons of cows. I will go though maybe one or two sticks in a breeding season. You learn real quick the difference between a rubbed tail head and a licked or itched tail head that is missing the chalk.  <cowboy>
 

synaka

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Sep 7, 2011
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Northern Illinois
Love the Estrotect, but have a hard time keeping them on.  The calves like to pick on them until they get a good hold and rip them off.  Have to check several times a day and replace any missing ones.  Tried the glue that the sale barns use, but if its hot, the glue just gets slippery and they slide off.  I keep using the patches, because they show up really good from a distance when all is working as it should.  Any ideas out there on how to keep the calves off of them? Maybe a little hot sauce? Also, we get the patches from Select Sires cause they're close by.
 

GoWyo

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Nov 29, 2008
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Wyoming
The glue that goes with the Ka-Mar heat detector patches works really well with the Estrotects.  That glue will stick to about everything.  Bad part is if you want to put on a new sticker it is about impossible to get the old one off.
 

rtmcc

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Oct 11, 2008
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Peterson, MN
We really like the Estrotec patches. If the cows are hairy yet it really helps to clip the area you are going to stick them to tight with the sheep heads. Only takes a couple seconds while they are in the chute and really helps. Sometimes we add a little tail adhesive to them also. We get ours either from our Genex or Accelerated Genetics rep.

Ron
 

rf21970

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Mar 10, 2010
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134
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Middle TN
Estrotect-We curry comb the area really well, wipe the are with included gauze rag (not really sure what that does), spray a little tail adhesive on and slap the patch on. They stay on for months.
 

Mueller Show Cattle

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Oct 26, 2010
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Glenrock, Wyoming
I just bought a 50 pack of estrotect patches from Bovine Elite. I have not lost any and actually had the reverse effect as they rip up a bunch of hair as they stick so well for me. So I now take a sharp knife and cut the hair rite up next to the estrotect patch encase I need to put another patch on. But I like them alot and I use a poodle comb and comb all the dirt and debris out of the hair where I apply to patch and they stick very well, just press down firmly for 10 to 15 seconds and they stick well.
 

Bi-Lane Livestock

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Mar 15, 2012
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Allegan, Mi
Estrotechs r what we use, watch for tail swating and placement as this can give a false heat.  Prep the cow right and they stay on good.
 

Lucky_P

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Jan 27, 2012
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Best stuff we've used is the fluorescent pink tail paint in the aerosol can.  Quick and easy to apply, easy to tell when it's all rubbed off from a cow standing repeatedly. 
Tail swipes, ribbingon branches, and an occasional mount by another cow 'coming in' won't 'set it off', but if she's been standing to be mounted multiple times, the paint will be gone.
 

Aussie

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Jun 27, 2010
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Tasmania Australia
nmcattle said:
Has anyone used the "standing heat" estrus detectors that are advertised on here? I have been using estrotects with success but the standing heat product looks interesting. I'm always looking for an improvement. Any thoughts or recommendations?
Have just used these new patches in a sync program of 45 cows and heifers. Retention rate when applied with the right glue as in promo video was good.
Rubbing was not as clear (some were only lightly scratched) this is supposed to be a plus as compared to estrotects to stop false heats but creates the opposite problem as heats can be missed.
Color is no where near as bright as other patches so in half light it is hard to see if the patches have been rubbed or still silver. Need to be right up to animal to see if patch is activated.
Hope this helps
 

leanbeef

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Jan 7, 2012
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Tennessee
We've been using the Estro-tech patches for a few years, and we've always had some that come off or get false reads from being licked or scratched on tree branches, etc. I saw some cattle last fall that somebody was using paint sticks on, and I switched. Worked WAY better for me, and i can paint about 10 head for $1.50 compared to $1 per cow for the patches. I've heard spray paint works just as good and is even cheaper...I'll probably try that this fall just because it seems so much easier to apply.

We've been buying the patches anywhere you buy breeding supplies...semen distributors, etc.
 

firesweepranch

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Jun 17, 2010
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SW MO
leanbeef said:
We've been using the Estro-tech patches for a few years, and we've always had some that come off or get false reads from being licked or scratched on tree branches, etc. I saw some cattle last fall that somebody was using paint sticks on, and I switched. Worked WAY better for me, and i can paint about 10 head for $1.50 compared to $1 per cow for the patches. I've heard spray paint works just as good and is even cheaper...I'll probably try that this fall just because it seems so much easier to apply.

We've been buying the patches anywhere you buy breeding supplies...semen distributors, etc.

We also use the paint sticks (livestock markers). If I have a problem cow to mark, I just bring out a bucket of grain and set it down, then get behind her and stripe her. But the stick mark lasts for weeks on most cows. I have cows that are 60 days bred that still have the mark! The hardest part about it is show heifers, since the marks do now wash out of the hair easily! My daughter refuses to let me use them on her show heifers, so they are a little tougher to watch.
I learned the paint stick method when I worked on Dairy's in CA; that is all they use is paint sticks, and the vets even use it to mark preg status when they are walking down the string when the cows are locked in the stanchions.
 

pweaver

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Jan 26, 2009
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155
Where and how do you mark using the paint sticks?  How much?  With the tailhead or across?  How far in front of the tailhead?  Sounds like dumb questions but just trying to get an idea.  We've used EstrusAlerts with reasonable luck until this year.  A week after they're bred the patch is already scratched from trim limbs, other cows rubbing over the backs, etc.  Really aggravating!
 
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