Thomas Illingworth

One year ago, Thomas Illingworth installed the smaXtec system on his Howgillside suckler farm in Lockerbie, Scotland. Since then, he has noticed several advantages for his 75 cows, particularly in heat detection, calving alerts, and early disease detection.

Spot-on calving alerts

smaXtec’s reliable calving detection has been a game changer for Thomas Illingworth’s suckler farm. As he explains: “The improved first service for the autumn calving cows has been outstanding. By studying the data and individual graphs for each cow, we can predict calving patterns more accurately and only need to intervene if the alerts go off.“

The farmer totally relies on the calving alerts: “With the calving detection, we know that the cow will calve within a maximum of 36 hours. Now, if we don’t receive a calving alert, we no longer need to get up. The system has never failed to alert us when a cow is calving.“ This gives him enough time for birth preparation, ensures efficient use of the calving pen, reduces stress for both the animals and himself, and provides greater peace of mind around the birthing process.

Precise heat detection & insemination timing

Another standout feature for Thomas Illingworth is the precise heat detection: “It works perfectly, meaning I no longer need to watch cows for bulling times. The bolus detects the exact optimal times for insemination and provides pinpoint accuracy in serving animals, reducing the time they aren’t pregnant.“

This level of certainty brings a lot of relief to his daily routine. The system has allowed him to focus on other tasks instead of checking for heats 4-5 times a day. He adds: “It provides the optimum timing for insemination, reducing the number of inseminations needed. Previously, we used Moocall, but when calving in batches for our ET program, we didn’t have enough units to go around. You had to guess. Now, every breeding animal has a bolus.“

Game changer in detecting health problems early

In addition to its other benefits, smaXtec has been a major advancement in Thomas Illingworth’s health management. The system provides timely alerts when potential health issues arise: “It has been a game changer in detecting health problems early, allowing us to address issues before they impact production in cows rearing calves or losing time getting them back in calf,” says Thomas Illingworth. “Mastitis and other diseases we can now detect up to three days before visible symptoms occur, enabling us to treat the cows in advance.“

“The system is absolutely worth its weight in gold.”

For Thomas Illingworth, smaXtec has made a significant impact on both the financial and production aspects of his suckler farm: “The system is absolutely worth its weight in gold,” he says. “If it alerts us to a calving cow we might otherwise miss, we know exactly when to look for her once the notification goes off. If it saves that calf, it’s priceless. On the insemination side, our autumn calving herd has achieved a 17% higher conception rate on the first service compared to this time last year, back then all without the boluses.“

He continues, “We can now monitor cows that may not be performing well, and the alerts guide us to check their diet, enabling us to make adjustments that improve their performance and overall results.”

Personalised support & expert training

Thomas Illingworth is highly satisfied with the support provided by the smaXtec team of experts. He shares, “Helen has been fantastic from the initial setup and is always available on the phone or laptop to assist with any issues that arise.“ In addition to expert support, smaXtec offers valuable training opportunities, including webinars and the smaXtec academy, keeping you up to date with the latest advancements.

The team is always ready to help, whether it’s interpreting graphs or addressing other system-related queries. Thomas Illingworth has benefited greatly from this, saying: “Although I haven’t had time to attend webinars, the training has been invaluable. We can now interpret graph data to identify even silent heats, allowing us to successfully inseminate more challenging cows.“

Stay connected to your cows anytime, anywhere

“smaXtec has allowed me to focus on other tasks around the farm, freeing up hours of wasted time and nights spent checking cows. Now, I only need to check the graphs 2-3 times a day via my phone once the animals enter the calving pen,” explains Thomas Illingworth. “This way, I can quickly determine if I need to be nearby in the coming days or if I can attend events off the farm, knowing I’m safe to do so.“

According to the farmer, looking ahead, smaXtec will be invaluable for those wanting to be off the farm with peace of mind, confident that the system is working in harmony for both people and animals. “This technology is becoming a massive advantage for beef farmers, especially those who work off the farm, as it acts as their eyes and ears, keeping them informed about everything happening on the farm,“ he summarises.