Pregnancy text: Moocall monitor sends alert to farmers

Federated Farmers said that although the idea was a good one, the monitoring unit was likely to be too costly for many Kiwi farmers.

A device that sends text messages to a farmer when a cow is about to give birth is now available in New Zealand.

The Moocall is a palm-sized monitor that is attached to a pregnant cow.

Using motion technology, the sensor picks up heightened tail movement - indicating a cow is due to give birth shortly - and sends a text message to its owner.

An example of a message would be: "Unit 1: High cow activity last 1 hour."

The sensors went on the market last December, but have just been made available in New Zealand and Australia.

Irish farmer Niall Austin developed the idea in 2010 after he lost a heifer and her calf during an unexpected difficult calving. On the Moocall website, he said the device would not only help to alert farmers when a cow was in labour, but also free them up to attend to other work around the farm without being worried about missing an animal's calving.

"The Moocall can also detect difficult births - allowing the farmer more time, should there be a need for veterinary assistance. It monitors your cow and calf and helps safeguard your herd."

Federated Farmers said that although the idea was a good one, the monitoring unit was likely to be too costly for many Kiwi farmers.

The group's dairy chairman, Andrew Hoggard, said: "It all depends on the cost per unit and smaller-type European herds - they calve all year round. Generally, they're not seasonal like New Zealand farms. So ... each week you'll have two or three cows that might calve, so you might only have five units, max.

"Whereas here in New Zealand, much bigger herds and often, 50 per cent of that herd is calving in that first three weeks, so you'd need quite a number of the units."

Mr Hoggard said similar devices were already on the New Zealand market, including those worn around a cow's neck that monitored their temperature and chewing activity.

Moocall
•A device attached to a pregnant cow's tail. When there is heightened tail movement - indicating the cow is near giving birth - it sends a text message to the farmer.
•Founded by Irish farmer Niall Austin in 2010 after he lost a heifer and her calf during a difficult calving.
•Costs A$339 ($380).

Visit au.moocall.com.