Imagine being able to predict when a calf isn’t feeling its best—before it even shows signs of illness. Thanks to cutting-edge technology, dairy farmers can now monitor their young stock around the clock with smart tags that track each calf’s daily habits. Brandt Kreuscher, Dairy Business Development Manager for Merck Animal Health, emphasizes the impact of this innovation: “With SenseHub Dairy Youngstock technology, you can forget playing guesswork with sick calves.”
This technology detects even the smallest changes in behavior, enabling farmers to intervene early and maintain animal health. “It’s like giving farmers a superpower to spot issues before they happen!” Kreuscher states. The SenseHub system focuses specifically on young stock, distinguishing their unique behaviors from those of adult cows.
Kreuscher explains how the system operates, “We track behaviors such as lying time, eating, and suckling. Each calf is monitored against its own baseline to identify deviations.” This level of precision allows farmers to recognize abnormal behaviors before they escalate into serious health issues.
Additionally, the system’s smart tags provide consistent monitoring without requiring constant human observation. “Cows have been selected for thousands of years to hide signs of illness,” Kreuscher notes. “Our technology observes them continuously, even when they are unaware.”
Farmers using this technology have reported immediate benefits. “Instead of checking every animal, our system highlights those needing attention. This allows staff to focus on calves with unusual behaviors,” Kreuscher says. The tag also features an LED light that directs attention to specific animals, streamlining the examination process.
The technology also assists in record-keeping. It documents how many abnormal days each calf experiences, enabling farmers to correlate health issues with overall productivity. “We can track not just the number of health events but also their severity. This gives us a clearer picture of long-term calf health,” Kreuscher explains.
Kreuscher believes the potential of this technology is immense. He is excited to see the long-term impact on calves tagged at birth. “With early identification and intervention, we expect to see healthier animals and reduced health issues as they grow,” he concludes.
