Didier Kersten

“We are informed early about upcoming births, which is really important for us as a suckler farm.”

For nearly a year, Didier Kersten has been using the smaXtec system on his suckler farm in Borgloon. The installation of the health management system offers numerous benefits for his approximately 100 cows, especially in the early detection of diseases, heat cycles and calvings. “The smaXtec system combines everything in one! It not only reliably detects heat cycles but also identifies the exact time of calving and monitors recovery after birth as well as the cows’ health throughout the entire lactation period,” the farmer reports.

Early treatment thanks to health alerts

Thanks to precise temperature measurement, Didier Kersten fully trusts the system’s reliable early disease detection. The farmer explains: “Due to the temperature alert from smaXtec, I was able to treat a cow with a virus in time using a painkiller.”

These health alerts allow him to use mild treatments early, before diseases get worse and lead to more severe consequences. This not only reduces the use of antibiotics and promotes herd health but also lowers costs and helps maintain milk production.

Monitoring silent heats too

smaXtec not only offers precise heat detection but also shows the optimal time window for a potential successful insemination. This innovative tool has already proven itself on Didier Kersten’s farm: “The clear insemination window when the cows are in heat allows us to plan inseminations well.”

With smaXtec, Didier Kersten can now also track silent heats, which he previously might have missed. “Thanks to the precise heat detection from smaXtec, I can now detect silent heats that would have slipped by me before.”

Calving alerts: Plenty of time for optimal preparations

The precision of the smaXtec system in detecting both heat and calving is a major advantage for the farmer. “In the past, we used two different systems for heat detection and calving. Now we have both in one – and much more!” says Didier Kersten.

The cows and calves also benefit from this, as early detection provides more time for necessary preparations: “Thanks to smaXtec’s reliable calving alerts, we are informed early about upcoming births. For us as a suckler farm, that is extremely important. This way, we have enough time to prepare for a possible C-section, and we hardly ever have to get out of bed at night.”

Single bolus entry, stress-free work

Didier Kersten particularly highlights the comfort and time savings the smaXtec system provides. An unbeatable advantage is the position of the bolus directly in the cow’s reticulum, which significantly simplifies everyday work. “The fact that I only need to insert the bolus once and can’t lose it gives me great peace of mind. It’s so easy, and I no longer have to search the fields for lost collars,” concludes Didier Kersten.