This may be especially important for animals on pasture. This can cause unfavored cows to not be marked adequately. Electronic Aids Two types of electronic estrous detection aids have recently become available, and others will be available in the future. The devices currently being used measure either a change in electrical resistance of vaginal secretions or an increase in physical activity of cows in estrus. Extensive scrubbing of the probe with a disinfectant followed by a clean water rinse and drying with a single-use paper towel may provide some protection against the spread of disease between cows.
Electronic pedometers are devices that record the amount of walking done by a cow.
Devices currently available have a miniaturized computer in each pedometer that measures the amount of change in walking activity between days. The amount of change is used to tell when a cow is in estrus. Results with these devices indicate that breedings based solely on pedometer readings are of comparable fertility to breedings based on time of standing estrus. How long the devices will last and whether the devices will pay for themselves are questions that remain to be answered. References Britt, J.H., R.J. Kittok, and H.S. Harrison.