Censortec and Alfco are providing a one-stop shop solution for animal monitoring and auto-drafting at this year’s Ploughing Championships.

For 2026, Censortec are showcasing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered vision technology, SmartSight.

Put simply, vision technology involves a camera watching cows to gather data, and software that turns that data into something useful.

Dutch-based Nedap, Censortec’s business partner and supplier of its SmartTags and SmartSight camera, decided the first use of vision technology should be locomotion monitoring to help detect lameness.

Product specialist with Censortec, Rachel Cooper, said: "Lame cows have reduced production, can miss heats, and suffer pain from the condition.

"Cows that become chronically lame (often caused by internal foot damage, which can cause permanent deformation of the hoof due to prolonged suffering) are incredibly difficult to cure completely, causing recurrent lameness in subsequent lactations.

"It’s estimated that up to 20% of cows in a herd can suffer from lameness at any given time.’

The SmartSight camera records each cow in the herd twice a day at milking time and builds up a picture of her locomotion.

The software then generates alerts if her behaviour changes.

To learn more about SmartSight Locomotion Monitoring, you can watch our short podcast below:

For years, Meath-based Alfco and Kerry-based Censortec have partnered to provide reliable, durable monitoring and drafting to Irish farmers, backed by knowledgeable on-farm support.

They have worked with Nedap to develop Advanced Cow Sorting, to allow farmers greater flexibility with their drafting systems.

New features include auto-drafting based on insights from heat alerts, health alerts, and lameness alerts, as well as drafting based on farm-specific rules.

Advanced Cow Sorting lets farmers work more efficiently while reducing stress on the herd.

Censortec’s SmartTag is the most reliable heat detection system on the market in Ireland.

The first farms that installed Censortec’s system over nine years ago are still using those same SmartTags today.

Censortec is also unique in that they, along with the team at Nedap, continually work to refine and improve the algorithm and the data the system provides.

This ensures that farmers always have the most up-to-date version of the product and the most up-to-date data available to them when making decisions about their herd.

When farmers pair Censortec’s durable heat detection system with Alfco’s tried-and-tested drafting, the entire package offers farmers a reliable solution for heat detection, lameness monitoring, and drafting.

Come along to Stand 118 at this year’s National Ploughing Championships to learn how Censortec and Alfco can help increase efficiency while improving life for farmer and cow.