A detection tag for the detection of the reproductive status of animals and a method of detecting the reproductive state of an animal are disclosed. A detection tag has a first surface that is affixable to the hide of an animal a second and opposite surface which includes abradable material and at least one visual code on and/or under the abradable material. The detection tag is configured such that, if at least one of the visual codes is on the abradable material, removal of some or all of the abradable material removes or obscures the respective visual code on the abradable material and, if at least one of the visual codes is under the abradable material, removal of some or all of the abradable material reveals the respective visual code under the abradable material. The abradable material can be a flood coat. An apparatus for detecting the reproductive status of an animal is further disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one of the above described detection tag and at least one tag reading device and an interpretation module which is configured to read the at least one visual code on the detection tag.
