Method, system and apparatus for detecting when an animal is in heat

A method of detecting when an animal is in heat comprising the steps of:

• using a proximity sensor mounted on a bull and a proximity sensor target mounted on the animal, determining when the bull is in proximity to the animal;
• calculating the period of time that the bull and the animal are in proximity to each other;
• using an activity sensor mounted on the bull, monitoring the activity of the bull while the bull is not mounting the animal and determining when the bull is resting and when the bull is walking or grazing;
• analysing the activity of the bull over the period of time that the bull is calculated to be in proximity to the animal while the bull is not mounting the animal;
• and
• determining, based on the combination of:
• (i) the period of time that the bull and the animal are in proximity to each other, and
• (ii) the amount of time that the bull is walking or grazing when the bull and the animal are in proximity to each other,
• whether or not the animal is in heat.