Animal Monitoring

Turning lameness data into measurable ROI

terry.canning@gea.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For decades, hoof health programs relied on routine schedules and human observation. Cows were trimmed at set points in lactation or flagged by employees who noticed visible signs of lameness.

Measure It to Manage It: Rumination data improves feed transitions and ingredient decisions

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In 2021, Hornstead Dairy took a step toward smarter data-driven care by implementing smaXtec, a health monitoring system initially aimed to improve their reproduction program. What started as a tool for reproduction soon uncovered a hidden culprit.

Putting data in the driver's seat

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Although it has become commonplace in our standard daily routines, we don’t think about all the ways AI tools are and can be utilized on dairy operations. These powerful tools can not only simplify day-to-day tasks, but they can also help drive decision-making and profitability.

Improve reproduction and heat stress management, one data point at a time

tera.baker@nedap.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dairies using activity monitoring technology to measure the effects of heat stress on their cows can unlock a valuable opportunity: integrating this data into breeding decisions as part of a comprehensive, data-driven herd management strategy.

Tapping into data to improve transition cow health and farm ROI

steven.pavelski@nedap.com — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From pre-fresh to post-fresh, data from automated monitoring technology empowers dairies to act earlier, manage smarter and achieve stronger returns – one transition cow at a time.

Can dry cows see the future? How monitoring technology can predict fresh cow issues

tiago.tomazi@merck.com — Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Your cows may not have a crystal ball, but monitoring technology used during the dry period may provide valuable information that can be used to predict the risk of potential health disorders that could affect lactation performance post-calving. Considering dry cows often are “out of sight and out of mind,” monitoring technology can fill the gap by keeping tabs on them 24-7.

Reproductive road map: Leveraging data as your dairy’s GPS

robert.heintz@vas.com — Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Managing your reproduction program is complex, with many moving parts, but your herd management software can simplify the process. Just as a GPS helps you reach your destination without unnecessary detours, utilizing your herd management software to its fullest potential enables you to achieve your goals without costly missteps or delays.

Measure It to Manage It: Cow monitoring system transforms herd health and reproduction efficiency

audrey@agproud.com — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Managing herd health and reproduction on a dairy farm is a constant challenge that requires keen observation, experience and timely interventions. For Calori-D Dairy, implementing the CowManager monitoring system in December 2022 marked a turning point in how they managed their cows – both for health and reproduction.

Three ways animal monitoring systems unlock hidden value in your reproduction program

donald.gilberg@gea.com — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Animal monitoring systems are a time-tested and proven solution. Plus, they hold the key to unlocking other hidden values that bring more dollars to your bottom line.

Minglewood Dairy combines tradition and innovation for premium milk quality

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Ever since 1894, Minglewood Dairy has upheld a tradition of exceptional care for their cows and land, evolving significantly over the past 130 years.

HPAI update: Seven states added for milk testing; California declares state of emergency

karen@agproud.com — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:05:51 -0500

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the second round of states coming on board as part of its National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) that was launched Dec. 6.

Tips to tackle tech on larger dairies

steven.pavelski@nedap.com — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Dairy cow monitoring is a disruptive technology, to say the least. Since its introduction, this tool has turned traditional cow management upside down by providing actionable insights into cow health and behavior often unseen by human eyes. These data are then used to hone dairy herd performance while saving time, labor and costs.

Automated health monitoring using sensors: What have we learned and strategies for on-farm implementation

jog25@cornell.edu — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The burden and challenges of cow health monitoring is growing as qualified personnel becomes scarce, labor costs rise, and herd sizes increase. Minimizing disruption of cow routines is also important to support improved performance.

Ruminating for better health

matheus@uoguelph.ca — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

One possible use of wearable sensor devices, such as collars, ear tags or leg bands, is to leverage the prepartum information generated by these devices for predictive assessments of future health and performance and for targeted management.

Ditch the office: Manage your herd from anywhere with cloud-based solutions

meagan.young@vas.com — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Herd management software can make it easier to gather, organize and use data to make profitable decisions. However, this often means being tied to your office where the software lives. But what if technology can help you leave the office behind?

Boost sort gate benefits on your dairy

matthew.heisner@nedap.com — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Sort gates provide one more opportunity to move from a group management philosophy to an individual management perspective. Instead of managing by exception, you are now managing the individual cow or individual challenge.

Small steps can lead to a big payoff with your dairy data

meagan.young@vas.com — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Failing to record accurate data about an event on your dairy is a small error. However, this small act can have a significant impact and lead to something bigger.

Iowa, Minnesota and Wyoming report cases of HPAI in dairy cattle

karen@agproud.com — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:08:11 -0400

Three new states have detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy cattle. Last week, state departments in Iowa, Minnesota and Wyoming reported cases of the disease, bringing the total of affected states to 12 and number of cases nationwide to just over 90.

Third dairy farmworker diagnosed with H5N1; more herd status testing options available

karen@agproud.com — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:19:12 -0400

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a third human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection. The USDA is adding an additional $824 million in emergency funding to continue to provide critical rapid response activities and is launching a pilot program to give dairy producers more testing options prior to interstate movement of dairy cattle.

USDA mandates influenza A testing for interstate movement of dairy cattle

karen@agproud.com — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:12:16 -0400

In response to the threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the USDA has announced proactive measures aimed at safeguarding the nation's livestock industry. The actions of mandated testing and reporting are designed to curb the spread of the disease.

Jobo Farms one step ahead of the game

audrey@agproud.com — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Two years ago, when Jobo Farms started looking at different programs and ideas to make their parlor run more smoothly, they instead found a herd health monitoring system that fascinated them with what it could do for their cows.

The human side of technology: Three ways monitoring makes life easier

evan.platte@merck.com — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

While the cow-side benefits of monitoring technology are significant, don’t overlook the human benefits for your employees. These advantages go beyond simple labor savings.

Avian influenza identified as illness affecting dairy cows in the Southwest

karen@agproud.com — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 18:32:52 -0400

On March 25, the USDA released that unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Southwest dairies affected by unidentified dairy cow illness

karen@agproud.com — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:54:01 -0400

Sudden loss of appetite; decreased milk production; thicker, concentrated, colostrumlike milk; a drop in rumen motility; abnormal tacky or loose feces; and fever are clinical signs reported thus far of an unidentified illness affecting dairy cows in the Southwest. Cases of this contagious illness were first reported several weeks ago in Texas.

Who is your dairy’s tech champion?

emily.rolli@nedap.com — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Dairy farm management gets more complex every day. If you do not already have a dedicated tech specialist on your farm, now is the time to decide who should take charge of managing these systems for your farm and integrating data to help your team make informed decisions.

Managing for the profitable cow

taliah.danzinger@vas.com — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

A productive cow isn’t always a profitable cow. A profitable cow performs in milk volume and quality, breeds back quickly and experiences few health events.

Technology integration on Wisconsin dairy advances herd health

audrey@agproud.com — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Recently, Tom Wegner was named the recipient of the 2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Dairy First Award. “It was pretty cool for Rebecca Gotham, my BI rep, to recognize me, our farm and my employees for all the hard work we do,” Wegner says.

Using data to unlock cow secrets

evine.vanriemsdijk@nedap.com — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Cattle may have been domesticated for centuries now, but they remain prey animals and work to keep their secrets. Those masking skills were beneficial thousands of years ago, but they can create herd management challenges today.

Put the power of herd management in your hands

craig.walter@vas.com — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Going mobile provides rapid cowside entry and quick access to your herd’s data. It allows you to make decisions instantly – instead of later when entering the data into your herd management software.

Swim with confidence through your dairy’s data sea

taliah.danzinger@vas.com — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Overwhelmed by data? You’re not alone. Whether it’s data from your herd management software, milk testing, parlor or milking robot, or other technologies, we’re immersed in a sea of data.