James Hanley

“We’ve reduced antibiotic treatments by around 60%. I’m very happy with that.”

James Hanley, who milks 350 cows at his family farm near Thurles, Tipperary, has been using smaXtec for nearly three years – and the difference has been remarkable.

“We’ve always used health monitoring systems, but smaXtec has taken it a step further”, James explains. The system gives him peace of mind, allowing him to “go away for weekends and leave staff to handle whatever needs to be done regarding insemination. The health of the animals is looked after, and we can enjoy a bit of life. It’s fantastic.”

A preventative approach

What James values most is smaXtec’s preventive approach to animal health. The system helps to detect issues like mastitis, ketosis, and milk fever long before clinical symptoms appear. For James, this is particularly helpful during the critical time around calving to prevent diseases like mastitis: “It alerts you after a cow calves – especially when temperatures rise – allowing you to catch mastitis cases at least a day, sometimes even a day and a half, before symptoms appear.”

This early detection has drastically reduced antibiotic use on the farm: “We’ve reduced antibiotic treatments by around 60%. I’m very happy with that.” And the results speak for themselves: “Our cell counts have improved significantly – we were always around 160 to 180 and now we’re down to 120 or 130. That’s entirely due to the information from smaXtec.”

How smaXtec transforms the way you farm

James also praises the simplicity of the app: “It’s very user-friendly. I receive notifications and start my day by reviewing the system. I can automatically draft cows if needed, and if I’m not on site, my staff can manage it easily. It’s very straightforward to control.” The technology has also accelerated breeding success. Since adopting smaXtec, “around 80% of our cows calve within six weeks in spring. I’m confident in the system – I no longer need to perform pre-breeding scans.”

“I would recommend this system to anyone considering investing in technology. You have to embrace it and make use of the information available.”

He concludes by reflecting on value and impact: “With the benefits of better calving, improved health, reduced drug use, and better performance, smaXtec has completely transformed how we farm.”