Floris Mentink

Floris Mentink runs a dairy farm with around 400 cows in the small village of Gieterveen, located in the Dutch province of Drenthe. Since early 2024, he has been using the smaXtec system – and he couldn’t be more satisfied: “smaXtec is a comprehensive health management system that covers everything. It measures inner body temperature – the most crucial parameter for animal health – with an accuracy of 0.01°C every ten minutes. This gives me a constant overview of my cows’ health, allowing me to act at the earliest signs of illness.”

“smaXtec is my herd manager”

“Thanks to 24/7 monitoring, I can do my herd health checks conveniently during my coffee breaks,“ says Floris Mentink. One of the most valuable aspects for him is the ability to monitor his herd remotely: “I can check what’s happening in the barn at any time – even when I’m not on-site. This is especially useful since we rely on external milking staff.”

On Mentink’s farm, health monitoring is primarily managed by a single person – a responsibility where smaXtec provides important support: “I always have a full overview and can ensure that everything is done correctly. For me, smaXtec is the perfect herd manager. It allows me to structure my workday more efficiently and reduces stress.”

Optimised calving with smaXtec

For Floris Mentink, the calving alerts have been a game-changer: “In the past, we sometimes arrived too late for calving. Now, every cow gives birth in the designated area, and thanks to smaXtec, we know exactly which cow is in the calving pen.” As the farm has expanded and the herd size has increased, calving space has become more limited. Therefore smaXtec also provides a solution: “The precise notifications ensure that cows remain in the calving area only as long as necessary – reducing stress and our straw consumption.”

“On average, I receive the calving alert 15 hours before birth. This allowed me to intervene in time when a cow was taking too long – saving the calf and likely preventing the cow from suffering”, Floris Mentink states.

TruAdvice^® disease indication notifications

“Thanks to the new TruAdvice^® technology, we were able to detect and treat mastitis at level zero, before any symptoms appeared,“ says Floris Mentink. He is impressed by the precision of the smaXtec system, which enables early detection and intervention – before illnesses become a real problem. smaXtec continues to develop its AI-powered TruAdvice^® technology, which initially focused on mastitis detection. Now, disease indication notifications for ketosis and milk fever have also been added.

Expert support & seamless integration

“One thing I really appreciate is the excellent support from the experienced smaXtec team. Their expertise allowed us to integrate the system into our farm quickly and smoothly”, says Floris Mentink. This close collaboration with experts has not only made the transition easier but also helped drive targeted technical improvements on the farm.