Manuals:Insemination

Artificial Insemination and Breeding

Training materials

Powerpoint for Artificial Insemination and Breeding

SmartCards for IB and Animal Identification

Message formats

Advice for identifying animals

• Every animal must have a unique number or name within the herd - no herd may have animals with the same name or ID number.
  • This means that you may have to change the ID of certain animals coming into the herd - through purchase or inheritance - if their ID is the same as one already in the herd.
• Keep a good record of the particular physical features which identify each animal in the herd. Keep their individual ID with this record.
• Every animal should be tagged for easy and accurate visual identification.
• There are many benefits to having your animals tagged.
• Tags can be purchased blank or pre-numbered.

• Numbers are preferable to use as ID. If possible,
  • Use an ear tag with the ID number on each animal.
  • Use the system the farmer is already using - minimum change.
  • Use one or two digits if not using any formal system (Farmer cooperative, Dinas ID system etc) .
  • Use a number that is already tattooed or branded on the animal.

• If a farmer wishes to use a name as identifier, remember that names
  • cannot contain punctuation or spaces.
  • must be unique within the herd
  • can only be one word.
  • should be reliable - simple, short, easily remembered and easy to record correctly every time.
  • Should use common spelling.
  • should not be confusing, difficult to remember or difficult to spell correctly.

Farmer notification that an animal is on heat (in oestrus)

BH {Farmer ID} [Animal ID]

• The message always starts with BH
• The animal ID number or name (no spaces or punctuation).
• This message is sent by a farmer and an alert is sent to their local inseminator who will telephone and visit.

Report insemination of an animal

IB [Farmer ID] [animal ID] [Bull ID] [Batch number]

• The message always starts with IB.
• Owner ID
• Animal ID
• Bull ID
• Batch number
• This message has a repeatable sequence which allows more than one insemination to be reported in the one message.

Report an abortion

KGG [Owner ID] [Animal ID] [Trimester 1,2,3]

• This message always starts with KGG.
• Owner ID
• Animal ID
• Trimester stage of dead foetus
  • 1 = First trimester (0 - 3 months)
  • 2 = Second trimester (4 - 6 months)
  • 3 = Third trimester (7 - 9 months)

Pregnancy test results

PKB [Owner ID] [animal ID] [Month]

• Owner ID
• Animal ID
• Age of foetus in months
  • Part months may be reported using a decimal place. Example: 10 weeks pregnant you would report as if it were 2 and a half months ie 2.5
• This message has a repeatable sequence which allows more than one pregnancy test to be reported in the one message.

Report a birth

LH [Farmer ID] [Animal ID] [Sex] [Calf Identification] [birth_date] {Birth weight}

• Owner ID
• Animal ID
• Sex of calf - B (female) or J (male)
• Calf ID
  • Use the same naming principles as you would use for any animal ID in iSIKHNAS. (see above)

Report calf weight

BB [Owner ID] [Animal ID] [Weight]

• Owner ID
• Animal ID
• Weight
• This message has a repeatable sequence which allows more than one calf weight to be reported in the one message.

System Query

Individual owner herd listing

DHP {Farmer ID}

• Message always starts with DHP.
• Owner ID

Individual animal information

IH [Owner ID] [Animal ID]

• Message always starts with IH.
• Owner ID
• Animal ID