Prevention starts from within. By combining unique data measured inside the cow with Artificial Intelligence, smaXtec helps farmers identify potential health issues as early as possible so they can make confident, informed decisions for better health, reproduction, feeding and management.

Which system is the best for preventative health management?

There are plenty of systems on the market. The biggest difference between smaXtec and external monitoring systems is where the data comes from. External sensors are useful tools for monitoring behavior. They can identify activity changes, heat signals and indirect rumination patterns. smaXtec takes a different approach. By measuring inside the reticulum, smaXtec can reveal physiological deviations at the subclinical stage, long before behavioral changes even occur. This is particularly valuable since waiting until behavioral changes, like reduced rumination or activity, indicate a problem may have already progressed. Measuring internal body temperature is the gold standard for preventive health management.

Why do dairy farmers choose smaXtec?

Farmers choose smaXtec because it turns invisible physiological changes into clear, actionable insights. Rather than waiting for a cow to show visible signs of illness, smaXtec customers get a head start exactly when it matters most, whether that means responding to a potential health issue, preparing for calving or adjusting the ration. By combining internal body temperature, water intake and drinking cycles, rumination, activity and rumen pH (optional) with Artificial Intelligence, smaXtec helps farmers make earlier and better-informed decisions which can prevent severe disease progression, reduce antibiotic use and veterinary costs, improve animal care and contribute to a healthier, more productive herd.

smaXtec vs. ear tags

Ear tags provide convenient information about activity, heat, eating time and rumination indirectly. Unfortunately, ear temperature can be an unreliable indicator of fever, since blood flow to the ear fluctuates with outdoor conditions such as ambient temperature, sun exposure and wind. Only smaXtec measures internal body temperature and is therefore unaffected by external factors.

smaXtec combines measurements of internal body temperature, water intake and drinking cycles, rumination, activity and rumen pH (optional). This provides a unique inside view of the cow, helping detect potential diseases at the first immune response. While ear tags are reusable, they can also fall off, break or get lost, whereas the smaXtec bolus remains securely in the cow’s reticulum for the animal’s lifetime.

smaXtec vs. neck collars

Neck collars are effective at capturing external movement patterns such as activity, feeding time, indirect rumination and can support reliable heat detection. But they can only detect diseases once they have progressed far enough to visibly impact behavior. smaXtec detects the earliest possible physiological signs, often days ahead of behavioral changes. Alongside internal body temperature, smaXtec provides data on water intake and drinking cycles, rumination, activity and rumen pH (optional).

This combination helps farmers connect early health signals with feeding and reproduction management, so they don’t have to wait until behavior changes and impacts profitability. While neck collars are reusable, they can also slip, loosen or fall off. The smaXtec bolus stays securely inside the cow for the animal’s lifetime.

Beyond the sensor: a true health management system

smaXtec is not just another sensor, it turns complex data into practical next steps. smaXtec analyzes bolus data with the help of proven smaXtec algorithms and Artificial Intelligence. With the smaXtec Web and App, farmers always have their herd data at their fingertips and know where action is needed. Notifications, task lists and the Digital Assistant make everyday herd management clearer. From heat detection and providing the ideal insemination window to calving alerts around 15 hours in advance, smaXtec supports farmers throughout the whole reproductive cycle. Data sharing and integrations with herd management systems make it easy to keep everyone informed and bring the most important information together in one place.

• High-precision measurement of internal body temperature (±0.018 °F accuracy)
• Calving alerts approximately 15 hours in advance
• Water intake and drinking cycles measurement, providing valuable insights into cow health and milk production
• Direct rumination measurement based on reticular contractions, not an indirect calculation from external movement
• Optional rumen pH measurement with the pH bolus to support targeted feeding management
• Comprehensive reproduction monitoring, including heat detection, insemination window, fertility-related indications and automated calving alerts ~15 hours in advance
• Maintenance-free technology, once administered, the bolus remains securely inside the cow for her lifetime

Ear tags and neck collars are useful tools for observing what a cow does. smaXtec goes a step further and adds insight into what is happening inside the cow. If the goal is proactive health management, this additional insight is crucial.