Moocall to revolutionise life for farmers in calving season
Moocall was awarded the Grand Prix at the recent IDI Design Awards in Dublin. The Moocall uses gesture recognition technology to monitor movement and sends an SMS to the farmer when their cow is in labour.
Dolmen studio manager Christopher Murphy said: “The initial reaction has been overwhelming. The product is just launching now and Moocall can’t make it fast enough. The key is how convenient the device is to use. Farmers attach it in around 10 seconds. The time involved means there is no distress for the cow.”
Some other devices on the market are inserted into the cow, thus requiring farmers to pass their herds through the cattle crush. The Moocall is attached to the cow’s tail, where the company’s trials have proven the device to be robust and ideally adapted to meet all on-farm challenges.
Moocall chairman and chief investor Michael Stanley said: “We have stress-tested the technology extensively and it has proved faultlesss. The sensor is fitted to the cow’s tail and activated in a matter of seconds and the robust ratchet strap system means they fit all sizes comfortably.
“The device is so simple to use and is built to last, they are also fitted with a 30-day rechargeable battery. Users can access a phone helpdesk and an online dashboard to manage multiple devices.”
Farmers gathered in large numbers at the Moocall stand at this year’s National Ploughing Championships. They were impressed by how this device allowed them to stay mobile during calving, rather than being tied to monitoring CCTV or having to visit calving sheds.
“This is a fairly radical product for two reasons,” said Mr Murphy. “Firstly, it really is a fantastic idea by the inventor, who is our client. And secondly, it is super easy to use. It offers farmers a real change of lifestyle.
“The fundamental proposition of Moocall is that a small farmer will no longer have to stay up all night to keep an eye on the herd.
“The device has come from a good idea and a good design built on extensive observation of how cows behave on the farm. To attach a device to a cow’s tail, it is safer to do so quickly. This is a very simple and effective device, and it is also a great Irish success story.”
Farmers who have trialled the product all feature in testimonials on the website moocallsensors.com. The farmers come from a variety of farms, with herds ranging from 25 to 180 cows.
“I started using the Moocall device and quickly found it an incredibly useful tool at calving time,” said Martin Costigan, Borris-in-Ossory, Co Laois, a full-time farmer with 180 cows.
“I live three miles from the farm and it gives me great comfort at night. No more need to travel down to the farm to check on pregnant cows during the night. I’m surprised this was not invented before now.”
