With activity monitoring systems trending across the dairy industry, Progressive Dairyman reviewed how producers are using one specific system that tracks data not previously monitored – rumination activity. SCR Engineers developed the HR-Tag, which tracks an animal’s movement and intensity of the movement. The same tag also records a cow’s rumination activity using a specially tuned microphone. (Click here for more details.) In the following article, we ask users of the rumination tags to describe their experiences with this technology. The roundtable participants are listed below.

Just like snowflakes and udder conformations, no two farms are exactly the same. Robotic milking has certainly highlighted this fact as more North American dairy producers are preparing their farms for the latest in milking technology. Before the robots are delivered to the farm, many planning decisions need to be in place. How should I design the layout of my barn? Which cow traffic system should I use? What about feeding strategies, bedding management and cow comfort?