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So far David Skelly has created 141 blog entries.

When to Attach the Moocall Calving Sensor

2021-10-28T20:54:00+00:00July 3, 2018|Calving|

Timing is key when it comes to attaching your Moocall sensor.

A broad rule of thumb with the sensor should attach it 10 days max before your cow's due date.

Most farmers look for the following physical signs before attaching the calving sensor:

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How to Prevent Navel Infections – A Leading Cause of Calf Deaths

2021-10-28T20:54:17+00:00June 27, 2018|Calving|

Navel infections are among the biggest threats to a newborn calf in their first few hours. In some parts of the world it accounts for over 1 in 5 of all preweaning deaths related to disease.

The navel is the remnant of the umbilical cord, a tube like structure that connects the unborn calf and the dam so that the calf has access to the dam’s blood supply.

Generally, the way to prevent navel infection is to dip or spray the naval soon after the calf has been born. If a navel infection takes hold, it can lead to liver problems, joint ill, respiratory disease and even death.

If you don’t look for navel infections you will find them too late. Even when your calf has been treated, it is pivotal that you perform a navel examination on the calf.

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Using a Vasectomised Bull In Breeding

2021-10-28T20:54:34+00:00May 31, 2018|Breeding|

 

Bulls - specifically vasectomised bulls for the purposes of this article - are the best heat detectors out there. They even catch silent heats that you would miss with systems without them.

Here we will talk about the merits of keeping a vasectomised bull on your operation.

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‘Bull Proofing’ the Moocall HEAT

2021-10-28T15:13:22+00:00May 10, 2018|News|

Despite being so simple to use, the Moocall HEAT sensor is designed in a very sophisticated way.

It took hundreds of hours of careful testing tweaking and painstaking redesign to make sure you get the best heat detection experience technology can offer.

Almost 50 dairy farms were involved in testing the Moocall HEAT system throughout development.

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Managing a Work/Life Balance

2021-10-28T15:15:19+00:00April 17, 2018|News|

While running your farm and making sure you get the most out of it as a business as possible is important, it is also important not to overload yourself.

Managing a work/life balance is something many people struggle with, however with farmers it can be even more difficult as there is always something else you can be doing.

Part-time farmers in particular find it difficult to get a break, as most of their down time is spent in what is essentially a second job.

While it might seem like a necessary evil, it can actually have some drawbacks that will make you question whether it is worth it.

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Value of a Teaser Bull

2021-10-28T20:54:46+00:00April 17, 2018|Breeding|

One of the biggest deterrents farmers have before investing in a teaser bull is the price of bringing one in.

But from a business perspective, it is wrong to look at it in that way. This isn’t sinking your money into something. Think of it as a deposit on an even bigger saving down the line.

Teaser Bulls - bulls who undergo a vasectomy procedure to render them effectively sterile - are commonly used in heat detection. Although they cannot impregnate any of the cattle, they can still pick up heats just as well as any stock bull.

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Advice on Teaser Bulls by Vet Conor Melvin

2021-10-28T20:55:02+00:00April 13, 2018|News|

As breeding season closes in farmers are thinking more and more about heat detection and how they can achieve the highest possible conception rates.

There are a lot of things to be considered when you decide to rely on vasectomised bulls for heat detection, so we had a chat about it with Dublin agricultural vet Conor Melvin.

Moocall HEAT is most effective when used with a vasectomised bull and AI, but because of the 6 week waiting time after the procedure, now is the time to be buying them in, or getting the procedure done.

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How to Prevent Cryptosporidiosis in Calves

2021-10-28T20:55:11+00:00April 12, 2018|Calving|

One of the biggest calf killers in Ireland, north and south, is scour. It is responsible for 40% of calf deaths. The threat of Cryptosporidiosis is increasing every year.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasite called cryptosporidium and is usually seen in young calves in their second week. Regular symptoms of crypto in an infected calf are diarrhoea, dehydration, loss of appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

Find out how to prevent this disease and how the Moocall Calving Sensor can play a part.

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Wipe Out Antibiotics on Your Organic Farm with Moocall Calving Sensor

2021-10-28T20:55:39+00:00April 5, 2018|Calving|

Organic farming may seem limiting, with certain medicines and fertilisers being banned, but that doesn’t mean modern technology can’t aid you in making it as efficient as possible!

Restrictions on antibiotics unless specially indicated for can make organic farming a risky business. But good stockmanship paired with our calving sensor is a huge asset can take the prospect of certain illnesses out of the equation early.

Simply being there as the calf comes out means that you can take the necessary steps to stop disease in its tracks before it begins. Because a calf’s immune system is nearly non-existent, any intervention you make have a massive effect on the calf’s development in the future.

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