An easily readable cow identification is also important. Tags should be free from mud and dirt, and brands should be clipped of long hair. Cattle should be grouped in a small enough area for each animal to have access to contact with every other animal in the herd. This allows individuals in heat to find and mount each other. The heat checking area should also have decent footing.
Poor footing can also lead to animal injury.
Cattle should also be grouped in an area where they can be easily and quietly sorted from each other. Cattle that are in heat must be sorted off to be artificially inseminated. When checking heat on a large group of individuals, it helps to sort off those that have already been recorded in heat, so that the remaining individuals can be more closely observed. Familiar surroundings, and checking heat at approximately the same time each day, helps cows to respond more favorably. Cows are creatures of habit and rapidly get used to a daily routine of activity.