The 3 most common questions about dairy cow health
How can you improve dairy cow health while increasing the profitability of your farm? This article answers the three most frequently asked questions – from early mastitis detection to recognising ketosis symptoms and milk fever, as well as optimising transition cow management. Learn which measures drive performance and economic efficiency in modern dairy farming.
How can I detect metabolic diseases like ketosis and milk fever before they become clinical?
Metabolic disorders such as milk fever or ketosis are particularly difficult to identify in their subclinical stages. If left undetected until clinical symptoms appear, they can significantly impact both herd health and farm profitability. Untreated cases may lead to serious consequences, including milk yield losses, fertility issues, secondary diseases (e.g. displaced abomasum), or even animal loss. This is why holistic health monitoring – especially during the transition phase – is critical.
Dr Jonathan Wallis, Veterinarian at smaXtecCows suffering from milk fever often go on to develop ketosis, retained placenta and displaced abomasum. Calcium deficiency is frequently associated with reduced feed intake.
Measurable early warning signs include:
- slight decrease in internal body temperature
- reduced water intake and fewer drinking cycles
- decreased rumination activity
The smaXtec system continuously and automatically records these parameters, enabling early detection of milk fever or ketosis at the first sign of deviation. With disease alerts powered by TruAdvice® technology, you can take targeted preventive action, improve animal health, and reduce treatment costs.
Together with your smaXtec advisor, you can also analyse patterns in feeding, management, or silage quality to identify root causes of metabolic disorders – supporting long-term herd health.
How do I keep my cows healthy during the transition phase?
The transition phase represents the highest disease risk – and the greatest economic opportunity. Around calving (approximately three weeks before and after), cows are particularly vulnerable: nearly 75% of all health issues occur during this time. A stable transition phase lays the foundation for a successful lactation, good fertility, and overall herd health.
Wayne & Sarah Neilson, dairy farmer from South Taranaki, New ZealandWe use smaXtec to track how transition groups adapt from pregnancy to calving. We don’t rush them straight from calving to milking mobs without clear data to ensure healthy progression. With smaXtec, we can determine when they’re ready for the milking herd, ensuring a smoother transition to mating.
To support health during this critical phase, continuous monitoring and appropriate nutrition are essential. smaXtec provides precise data and expert support, enabling ongoing optimisation of feeding strategies and herd health management. Risks such as inadequate feed or water intake, as well as early-stage metabolic disorders, become visible at an early stage – allowing timely intervention and targeted improvement of transition management.
How can I sustainably reduce somatic cell counts in milk?
High somatic cell counts (SCC) in dairy cows are almost always caused by udder infections. Subclinical mastitis, in particular, often remains undetected due to the absence of visible symptoms. Key levers to reduce SCC include:
- Early mastitis detection: Identify cases even before the first clinical symptoms appear, for example through continuous monitoring of internal body temperature
- Milking hygiene and routine: Pre- and post-milking disinfection, regular technical milking system checks
- Barn hygiene: Clean, dry bedding areas, appropriate bedding material, and well-maintained walking surfaces
- Optimised nutrition:High and stable dry matter intake and balanced rumen pH help prevent rumen fermentation and metabolic issues that increase mastitis risk
smaXtec provides the data foundation for this approach. By continuously measuring internal body temperature inside the cow (±0.01°C accuracy) using bolus technology, the system detects health changes at the earliest immune response. Farmers can identify at-risk animals early and take preventive action. In addition, smaXtec’s TruAdvice® technology delivers specific disease alerts, including mastitis probability. Field studies have shown that 93% of mastitis cases are detected early using smaXtec. All of this happens automatically – without the need for constant manual monitoring.
Your smaXtec advisory team also works with you to analyse herd health data and optimise milking routines, hygiene, nutrition, and herd structure. The result: a proactive rather than reactive approach – leading to sustainably lower somatic cell counts.
Peter Wood, dairy farmer from England, UKCell counts have improved significantly since using smaXtec. Overall, the three-month average is 78’000 where we used to be always around about 100’000 – 150’000.
Conclusion: Early detection is not a luxury – it’s essential for high-performing dairy cows
Mastitis, ketosis, milk fever, and transition-related issues cannot be completely avoided – but they can be detected early and managed effectively. Continuous health monitoring enables disease detection at the first immune response or deviation. This helps prevent clinical outbreaks, reduce treatment costs, and sustainably improve animal health. The key shift lies in moving from reactive treatment to proactive herd health management.
