Hornstead Dairy Farm, home to 2100 cows, has installed the smaXtec health management system in 2022. A well thought-out step in the direction of a future-proof dairy operation, which has yielded transformative results.
Massive Reduction in Cull Rates
The adoption of smaXtec at Hornstead Dairy Farm has led to a remarkable reduction in cull rates, showcasing the system's effectiveness. Amber Horn-Leiterman, farm owner explains the success: “We recently analyzed our cull rates for our dairy, comparing our last year before investing in smaXtec in 2021 with this past year (2023). Looking at our entire herd, we have decreased our death rate by 37.5% since utilizing the smaXtec health monitoring system.' The improvements also result in an impressive return on investment: “Breaking down those numbers further, our sold and died less than 90 days in milk dropped from 12.28% to 4.43%. With smaXtec, we are seeing a 7.8 ROI just from the improvements on cull rates,“ says Amber Horn-Leiterman, the farm's manager. These figures highlight a substantial improvement in herd management. The significant decrease in early lactation losses underscores the efficacy of smaXtec in maintaining the health of the herd. “These numbers solidify the many reasons why I trust the smaXtec system wholeheartedly,“ Amber adds.
Revolutionary Temperature Monitoring
One of the most important functions of smaXtec for Amber Horn-Leiterman is its ability to monitor the inner body temperature of each individual cow, a function that has revolutionized health care for Hornstead Dairy. “The inner body temperature monitoring with smaXtec has been a game changer for us. The inner body temperature allows us to provide preventative and supportive care to our cows and helps catch inflammation and metabolic issues in transition cows before these issues get out of hand,” Amber notes.This continuous monitoring enables the farm to address health issues proactively, ensuring that cows receive the necessary care promptly. The level of precision in health management provided by smaXtec has been instrumental in enhancing the overall well-being of the herd.
Valuable Insights through pH Monitoring
In addition to the impressive health improvements, Hornstead Dairy also benefits greatly from smaXtec’s innovative pH technology. By monitoring rumen pH, Amber Horn-Leiterman and her team gain valuable insights into their feeding strategy and the cows’ transition phase. “The pH bolus from smaXtec is really improving our feed game. We are using the pH bolus to show us how our feed program operates right now and what we could change for the future.” This data-driven approach allows them to continuously optimize nutrition and feed management. “We made the choice to implement the pH bolus in our herd to give us a more in-depth look at what we could improve to make the cow’s transition easier for them.” Through these detailed insights, Hornstead Dairy is able to further enhance long-term herd health and with that overall productivity.
Significant Financial Savings
The financial benefits of smaXtec have been equally impressive, particularly in terms of replacement program savings. “Alongside the smaXtec dairy management advisor, we took these herd improvements and calculated the savings generated from the changes made to our replacement program. These included savings from a reduction of replacement animals needed, reduced milk loss due to early lactation culls, and increased capacity to produce beef crosses,” Amber explains. She puts the result in concrete terms: “smaXtec has enabled us to make significant cost savings in various areas. For 2023, we saw a replacement program savings total of over 500,000 USD.” The reduction in the need for replacement animals and minimized milk loss have contributed to substantial cost savings. “The smaXtec system is helping us obtain our goal of keeping cows on the dairy longer, which has helped us with our goal of expanding and maintaining herd size without the need for additional replacements,” she adds. Amber Horn-Leiterman is looking positively to the future and is excited to see what other positive effects the smaXtec system will have on her farm: “I am excited to see the continued benefits of investing in the smaXtec system for years to come.”
