A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR A MONITORING SYSTEM TO DETECT ESTRUS IN DAIRY COWS

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Abstract
A closed circuit television (TV) and videorecorder were used to monitor continuously the behaviour of postpartum dairy cows. All TV monitored cows were detected in estrus by the third ovulation postpartum, giving an expected calving interval of 362 days if cows were bred at the first estrus after 60 days postpartum. By comparison, cows tied in stalls and observed by the cowmen as part of their regular duties had an expected calving interval of 379 days. The average calving interval of cows recorded in the Canadian Record of Performance was 404 days. By considering the financial savings per lactation in feed and labour, and gains in milk production, all at three levels of net returns to variable costs per lactation and four levels of milk production, the financial advantage of installing the TV monitoring system was calculated. With an annual capital and operating cost of approximately $1,900 for the equipment, annual increases in profit per cow averaged $69 with a 42-day decrease in calving interval and $34 with a 17-day decrease in calving interval. The group sizes giving a break-even point were about 28 and 56 cows, respectively. These group sizes are specific to a year-round calving programme. In contrast, where calving was ideally over a short period benefits from a shorter calving interval would be more dependent on the mean calving interval before investment was considered.

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