John Hatton

In the lush pastures of Meath, Ireland, farmer John Hatton and his son Mark Hatton manage a herd of 95 cows. Since 2017, John has integrated the smaXtec system into his pasture farming operations. The system has changed the way he manages his herd, specifically in heat detection and during the critical time around calving.

“Regarding heat detection it’s phenomenal”

For farmers, efficient heat detection is crucial for successful breeding and thus milk production. John Hatton shares how massively smaXtec has transformed this aspect on his farm: “I’ve been using the smaXtec system now for about 6 years at this stage and I couldn’t live without it to be truthful. It does all the work for us regarding heat detection,“ he explains. The system made heat detection on John Hatton’s farm efficient and reliable. “Regarding heat detection it’s phenomenal. We just draw the cows as we get the notifications for morning and evening artificial insemination,“ he adds, highlighting how the system’s timely alerts facilitate effective breeding.

Reliable calving alerts

One of the standout features of the smaXtec system for John Hatton is its calving alerts. He describes the convenience and reliability they offer: “One of the biggest bonuses of the smaXtec system is that it gives you a notification when a cow is about to calve and it’s phenomenal because you’re not stacking a shed full of cows waiting for a cow to calve.“ For John Hatton usage of smaXtec means saved time and reduced stress for both the cows and the farmer.A common frustration among farmers: “You know what they’re like. You think she’s going to calve and it takes her 3 days.” With smaXtec this is a problem of the past on the Hatton Farm. “The smaXtec system in general will give you an 8 hours to 24 hours notice in advance. And I found over the last 4 or 5 years it’s one of the biggest bonuses of having the system. It’s fantastic,“ he says. This advance notice allows for better preparation and management, ensuring the cows receive the care they need at the right time.

Proactive approach in health management

The smaXtec system also helps in maintaining the health of John Hattons herd, especially the older cows during calving. “So from a health perspective, when we get a notification say for the older cows nearly over 3 lactations, definitely the 4th one, they all get a calcium bolus because I don’t want them to get sick. So therefore if I get a notification that she’s going to calve, I’ll give her a calcium bolus,“ John Hatton explains. This proactive approach helps prevent metabolic issues and ensures a quicker recovery for the cows.

Economic and operational benefits

The economic and operational benefits of smaXtec are evident in John Hatton’s daily routines. “For me the smaXtec system is fantastic because the health of the cow is not wrecked. You know you’re not waiting for a cow to recover and everything like that because the notification is coming in and we can directly act when we get the notification,“ he points out. “With smaXtec and the timely calving alerts, our cows are straight out of the cubicles and into a straw shed. And we find that’s what makes it brilliant for you. I definitely saved a heap of straw since we have the smaXtec system.“ This reduction in resource usage translates to cost savings and a more sustainable farming operation.