Fertility and herd health management play crucial roles, not only in productivity and profitability of dairy farms, but also in their environmental footprint.
Dairy farmers are facing increasing pressures to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, while maintaining sustainability.
By breeding cows for traits such as improved fertility, health and milk quality, farmers can enhance overall herd efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The adoption of cutting edge technologies further enhances the sustainability of dairy farming.
These technologies enable farmers to make data-driven decisions, optimise resource use and minimise waste.
Additionally, labour-saving technologies reduce the environmental impact associated with manual labour while improving overall efficiency on the farm.
Enhance fertility and improve herd health with MooMonitor+
The MooMonitor+ is a wireless wearable sensor that allows farmers detect individual cow heats and health events with ease through advanced data analysis.
It monitors cows on a daily basis and identifies specific types of behaviour such as feeding, rumination, resting time and different types of activity intensity.
This helps farmers to swiftly identify issues and make well-informed decisions regarding herd management.
Farms that installed the MooMonitor+ system have reported numerous benefits including a reduction in number of inseminations, shorter calving intervals and increased genetic gains as well as higher submission and conception rates.
This improved reproductive performance translates directly into tangible financial gains for the farm from reduced artificial insemination straw usage, more calves per cow per year, higher production and reduced labour costs.
Joe Barry who installed the MooMonitor+ system remarks “now once we are finished calving cows, the MooMonitor+ takes care of the breeding season and we are into a normal working day”.
Daily alerts to his phone provide Joe with valuable insights into his herd. The system identifies new heats and automatically drafts the cows, streamlining the process.
By the time Joe finishes milking, his cows for breeding are conveniently prepared in the drafting pen, ensuring he is no longer missing silent heats.
Rumination data provides valuable insights into the welfare of animals. Cows naturally engage in rumination, and monitoring this behaviour offers cues about their wellbeing.
Additionally, it can further improve the accuracy of heat detection and serve as an early indicator of illness in cows.
The system generates health alerts, promptly notifying the farmer of potential health issues, enabling early intervention. This proactive approach not only reduces the need for antibiotics but also facilitates better recovery rates on farm.
While on holiday, Annraoi Hilliard received a notification from the MooMonitor+ app indicating reduced rumination in one of his cows.
Monitoring the cow’s performance through the app, Annraoi observed no improvement, prompting him to contact the vet when necessary.
“The cow showed up with a displaced stomach. I was able to alert this from Spain on the MooMonitor+ app, it makes things very easy,” Annraoi said.
Every farmer seeks seamless and accurate heat detection, timely calving, improved health and superior genetics for their herd. With the MooMonitor+, each cow is individually monitored, allowing farmers to maximise performance.
Looking for greater peace of mind regarding your cows this year? Request the MooMonitor+ brochure here and kick-start your breeding season.
