Get ready for your first mating season with Halter

Mating with Halter

There’s a lot to think about heading into mating, especially when it’s your first season using Halter’s tools. The good news? No more tail paint and reduced labour during mating. You’ve got everything you need at your fingertips; just open the Halter app and get started.

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Using a new system can feel overwhelming, so to set you up with how to use Halter during a mating season, we’ve put together the most important steps to check off before you get going. Plus, a few extra tips to make the most of your data this season and improve your mating results with Halter.

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Set up your Halter app

First things first, make sure your app is set up for mating - this means your metrics will be accurate from the get-go.

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• Update your PSM (planned start of mating). You can do this by heading to the Mating tab in your Halter app. If this isn’t your first season with Halter, you can also create and access multiple seasons on our Unlimited package.
  
• Exclude cows you don’t plan to mate this season. If you run a Spring Mating system, you can leave the Autumn girls behind for now.‍
• Record any intervention treatments you plan to do.

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A quick once-over before mating here will make sure your data stays clean and your insights stay useful all season long.

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Give your cows the best chance to start cycling

Your cows’ recovery and cycling are key to a smooth start. Here’s how to check in:

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• View your herd’s cycling rate in the app to see how you’re tracking against your target.
• Dig into your data to find which groups are slow to cycle.‍
• Feed them well - nutrition is the foundation for success.
  
• Halter for Web is available for Pro and Unlimited users who want to take a deeper dive into the numbers.

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If you’re on our Unlimited package, you’ll also see new reproduction graphs in Halter for Web - all your key KPIs are there, plus any previous years' performance for comparison.

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Drafting your on-heat cows

If you’re using a drafting gate, make sure your setup is running smoothly before things get hectic.

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Halter integrates with DeLaval, ProTrack, Intelligate, MilkTech, Jantec and EasyDairy drafting gates. If you’re all set up, do a quick test run for peace of mind before mating starts - it’s one less thing to worry about on the day.

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Heat detection with Halter - what can you expect?

It can feel daunting throwing the tail paint away - we get it! So here’s what to expect.

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Halter heat alerts are designed to fit seamlessly with your mating program. Every cow in the On Heat part of the app is ready to be mated at the next opportunity. If a cow looks rubbed but hasn’t yet alerted, she’s likely in the early stages of heat and will be alerted soon.

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We’ve included a graph below that shows how the timing of Halter heat alerts relates to cow behaviour, insemination timing, and conception probability.

Heat LEDs

You’ll see the LED light on the collar flash for cows on heat starting from 6 weeks pre-PSM.

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• The flashing white LED lights up when cows leave their paddock and flashes for 4 hours at a time.
• Cows on heat will also show a ‘pulsing’ marker on the live farm map.
• Cows stay in the On Heat tab for 36 hours from when they alert, unless an insemination is recorded. Once that’s done, her LED won’t flash again, so you won’t accidentally draft her twice.

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Record your inseminations

This is a crucial step - Halter relies on insemination data to give you accurate submission, non-return and estimated in-calf rate insights later in the season.

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• Record inseminations as they happen, whether you’re using drafting gates or LEDs.
• If you’re on a Pro or Unlimited package, you can auto-import inseminations from MINDA (and EasyDairy in Australia) directly from the Halter app.

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Keep an eye on your cycling rate

You can view this anytime in the app, and the graph populates 9 weeks pre-PSM. Another reminder to get that PSM entered early! If your cycling or submission rates look lower than target, reach out to your vet or trusted advisor to make a plan and get things back on track.

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Now you're ready to nail your mating season

Your first mating season with Halter is an exciting one, and a big step forward in using data to make confident decisions. Keep your app updated, track your numbers, and lean on our Support team when you need - they’re available 24/7 and are there to help you have your best mating season yet. 

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