Not too far off the coast of Lake Michigan, in Kewaunee, WI, Schleis Farms LLC demonstrates the effectiveness of advanced herd management strategies. Having adopted the smaXtec system in May 2023 Ryan Schleis and his team has experienced significant changes in animal health on their 550-cow dairy.
Improving reproduction on the farm
Since installing the system, Schleis Farms has seen remarkable improvements in reproduction. “Reproduction on the farm has been a game changer since installing smaXtec,” said Schleis. “I am catching cystic cows and non-cycling cows with the system. The smaXtec system also allows me to catch repeat heats in cows earlier than previously. I have seen a 70% reduction in hormone usage now that I am using the smaXtec system.” Catching problem cows earlier helps reduce days open which leads to a higher milk yield compared to feed and labor costs. The reproduction benefits don’t stop there, just take it from Ryan. “One of the biggest benefits to having the calving alerts is the amount of straw I am saving in the pre-fresh pens. We are using 60-70% less straw by simply moving cows into the pen once the system provides the calving notification. The cow is spending no more than 24 hours in the pen whereas in the past, some cows were spending 4 to 5 days in the pen before she calved. The amount of straw bedding saved is a piece of the equation I never thought of when first implementing the system but has been a great bonus.” Some of the benefits of the smaXtec system are obvious from the start, however it’s often the unexpected improvements, like a decrease in straw bedding, that make all the difference.
“smaXtec has helped make day to day life on the farm easier.”
smaXtec is so much more than a health system for cows, used efficiently, it can change your quality of life for the better. Ryan says that “smaXtec has helped make day to day life on the farm easier. I am dealing with less cows that are extremely ill. This means less labor dealing with extremely sick cows because we are catching these animals early due to the smaXtec alerts.” Dealing with extremely sick animals is both cost and labor intensive. It also usually leads to a decrease in production. By using the smaXtec system, Schleis Farms is alerted to health changes early allowing them to take a proactive treatment approach, reducing antibiotic usage and stopping the disease before it progresses. Quality of life isn’t the only thing to change since using the smaXtec system, Ryan has also seen a shift in his daily activities on the farm. “With smaXtec, I know what to expect during the day and know what specific cows I need to look at,” said Schleis. “I am not cramming all the breedings into 1-2 days. It is nice to have the breedings spread out throughout the week. I have decreased the amount of time cows are spending in headlocks since utilizing smaXtec.”
New technology and customer success
While technology is great, it’s often only as useful as the user makes it and, as many know, it can be daunting to learn something new. Enter smaXtec’s Customer Success Team. Our experienced and knowledgeable, Dairy Management Advisors are here to help all customers make the most of the system. From installation to employee training to building and reviewing protocols, the CS team is there to help your farm succeed. When asked about his experience with the team Ryan said, “It was a breeze working with the customer success team the first few months after installing the system. They are always there to answer questions I may have.” Through proactive management Schleis Farms has observed noteworthy advancements in cow health including reduced antibiotic usage and improved repro numbers. Their dedication to cow health highlights why Schleis Farms is at the forefront of innovative dairy farming.
