Using neck collar activity monitors to measure individual cows’ activity plus rumination has paid for Hardscrabble Dairy in Wisconsin. Instead of blanket health or reproductive protocols for all cows, producers can treat and breed each cow at the best time for it. Dairies can find considerable savings in health costs and labor with payback in less than 24 months.
Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 4, 2019, page 10. Link. By checking only the cows that the monitoring system flags, the daily routine for healthy cows is not interrupted and sick cows get greater attention.
INSIGHTS: This is an interesting look at how technology continues to enhance animal health and food production.