Most dairy calves born in the U.S. are the product of artificial insemination. But now there’s a new kid in town when it comes to “AI” in the calf barn.
CowManager®, a Dutch company with a long history in dairy cattle activity monitoring, has introduced a Youngstock Module that allows managers to monitor individual calves via lightweight ear sensors.
The sensors combine temperature and artificial intelligence with ever-evolving machine learning algorithms to electronically monitor individual calves. The system can detect subtle behavior changes associated with illness, allowing for early disease detection and detailed recovery tracking.
Information from the sensors is transmitted to a computer or smartphone via wireless solar routers, which can be placed virtually anywhere – barns, pastures, or feedlots. This real-time information is available 24/7, and also can be integrated with herd management software programs.
Each ear sensor fits around an official animal identification RFID tag, and stays with the animal throughout its life. As calves grow and develop, additional value is derived from heat-detection and breeding decision-making, transition-cow health monitoring, and more. The sensors can be transferred to other animals and do not require battery charging or collars.
Cow Manager developers say the Youngstock Module ensures that each calf gets the individual attention it needs in a timely fashion. Calves can be treated earlier in their disease progression, so their performance is less affected, and treatments have a better chance of working and allowing a full recovery.
Ultimately, they say this leads to improved animal welfare and reduced reliance on antibiotics, plus saves time and labor. Keeping calves healthy and preventing permanent lung scarring also can help maximize calves’ genetic potential for optimal lifetime performance.
The CowManager Youngstock Module won a Silver Medal Innovation Award at the EuroTier 2024 trade show in Hanover, Germany. The system is distributed in the United States by Select Sires, Inc.
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