The Moocall sensor detects repeated tail lifting behaviour that typically occurs before calving.
In most cases, cows show this behaviour 1–2 hours before birth, which allows the sensor to send High Activity alerts.
However, in some situations the sensor may not trigger alerts before calving.
Below are the most common reasons this can happen.
1. The Cow Did Not Show Typical Tail Lifting Behaviour
The Moocall sensor detects tail lifting patterns, not the birth itself.
Some cows may calve very quickly or with minimal tail lifting, which means the sensor may not detect enough activity to trigger an alert.
This can happen when:
Labour progresses very rapidly
The cow calves quietly or with little movement
2. Difficult or Irregular Labour
In some difficult calving situations, the cow may show irregular labour behaviour.
For example:
The cow shows tail lifting several hours or days earlier
Labour starts and stops
The cow becomes exhausted and stops pushing
If the tail lifting behaviour occurs too early or irregularly, the sensor may not detect the typical alert pattern immediately before calving.
3. Sensor Not Positioned Correctly
If the sensor is too low on the tail or not securely fitted, it may not detect tail lifting correctly.
Correct positioning is important for reliable detection.
The sensor should be:
Placed opposite the vulva
Firm but not overly tight
Positioned higher on the tail if the cow has a smaller tail
4. Sensor Was Not Connected
The sensor must be flashing blue before being placed on the cow.
A flashing blue light means the device is:
Powered on
Connected to the network
Ready to send alerts
⚠️ Do not place the sensor on the cow if it is not flashing blue.
If the sensor loses connection and begins flashing multiple colours, it will not send alerts until the connection is restored.
Remember:
In rare cases, a missed calving can occur. This is unusual, but it may happen occasionally depending on the cow’s behaviour or the progression of labour.
If missed alerts occur repeatedly, this is not expected behaviour and we recommend contacting Moocall Support so we can investigate the issue.
If you suspect that calving may be starting, we always recommend checking the cow directly, even if alerts have not yet been received.
Need Help?
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Moocall support team.
📧 Email: helpdesk@moocall.com
Or call one of our offices:
