Every piece of technology on the trade show floor has numerous stops to make before arriving in Madison. But unlike the mundane realities of layovers and pit stops, the route for many new technologies includes a stop at the WKU SmartHolstein Lab. A collaboration between Holstein Association USA and Western Kentucky University, the WKU SmartHolstein Lab tests up to 30 new pieces of equipment at a time on the university’s 50-cow dairy.
Jeffrey Bewley, Holstein Association USA, Inc. executive director of genetic programs and innovation, helped start the WKU SmartHolstein Lab in 2021. He describes it as a place to explore technologies for the dairy industry.
“Part of that is to provide outreach for the industry on how we think about new technologies and incorporate them into the dairy,” he says. “Some of it is to provide a place for companies to try their technology in a real-world setting with people experienced in that area to provide feedback.”
A Place To Try It Out
Bewley adds that the WKU SmartHolstein Lab can help ease the burden for commercial farms dealing with newer technologies that might not be quite ready for them. Being a University herd, there are also opportunities for research on the technologies.
The WKU SmartHolstein Lab is not only an important stop for new pieces of technology, but it’s also an attraction for many members of the dairy industry.
“People come visit us just because they can see so much in one place,” Bewley says. “There may be no other place to see that much working in a real farm setting.”
Technologies likely to make a stop at the WKU SmartHolstein Lab include camera-based systems, wearable technology and milk-based technology. Bewley says the University herd’s small parlor is an ideal setting for data collection.
“We’re collecting biological samples from the animal two or three times a day and measuring a lot of things in the milk that we wouldn’t have been able to do before,” Bewley notes.
He says another beneficial piece of the WKU SmartHolstein Lab is the feedback loop they provide.
“We can say: ‘This part’s working well, but that one not so well. Or maybe this is something you could think about for revising the hardware or user interface. The cows have figured out how to move that, or you need to have a maintenance plan for when that gets dirty,’” he says.
Having seen so many new ideas coming through the lab, Bewley encourages farmers not to overlook low-cost technology that can offer immense benefits. Some of those solutions include weather stations, human resources tools and automatic foot baths.
Unfortunately, some innovations can’t get the traction and momentum they need to stay on the road. “Three or four technologies have been in the lab and are now out of business,” Bewley says. “When you work with startups, they don’t all make it. Not all ideas become successful. It’s disappointing because you get so excited about it.
He adds: “But in actuality, if we weren’t working with some that failed, then we’re not pushing the envelope far enough.”
For the technologies that continue on from the WKU SmartHolstein Lab, many stop at World Dairy Expo. But once they arrive, whether through the Trade Show, a Knowledge Nook session or Virtual Farm Tour, they’re gearing up to hit the road again. This time, they’ll head to their final destination: one of the most progressive dairies in the world.
“There are not many places where you can get that exposure to so many people involved in the industry,” Bewley explains. “And it’s not just producers, but all of the industry support. It’s the nutritionists and veterinarians who are working with the dairy farms to help them understand what’s out there. It’s a great place to get exposure to open up the doors for making these technologies work and be successful on farms.”
