Vet says: “For me, smaXtec is the Champions League”

Digital herd health management has become an integral part of modern veterinary practice. Especially in areas where responsibility for diagnosis and treatment clearly lies with the veterinarian by law, digital systems are often met with initial scepticism. DVM Ulf Stumpe knows this perspective from his own experience. The veterinarian supports large dairy farms and now works intensively with smaXtec. In this interview, he openly describes why he was initially rather critical of the system, what fundamentally changed his opinion, and why smaXtec is now a key component in his herd management approach.

Mr Stumpe, you openly say that you were initially rather sceptical about smaXtec. What made you sceptical at first?

“Yes, I was very critical and sceptical. Not because of the technology itself, but more because of the emotion behind it: as a veterinarian, I initially had the feeling that the system was developing in a direction that competes with the veterinary profession. By law, we are responsible for diagnosis and the use of medicines. That can quickly make you feel somewhat undermined. I think it is important to say this honestly, because many colleagues share exactly this feeling. But now I am absolutely convinced of the opposite.”

When and why did you change your opinion about smaXtec?

“It happened surprisingly quickly. I was very sceptic when I first went to a farm that worked with smaXtec. After a very short time, it became clear: smaXtec is different. Once I looked at the first cows that had triggered fever and rumination alerts, things got interesting. I saw that there was real information behind it. Within a very short time, we were able to recognise that certain issues were not limited to individual animals, but were systemically linked to feeding, management, or stress. From that moment on, it was clear to me: if you use smaXtec properly, it represents a real paradigm shift.”

What does this paradigm shift look like for you in concrete terms?

“In the past, things were much more focused on the individual cow and on reactive action. With smaXtec, I can detect much earlier when something is building up in the herd and act preventively. If fever alerts suddenly increase after a feed change, I know that something is systematically wrong. Then I am no longer just dealing with the individual cow, but with the underlying cause. That is the key difference for me: affected animals are addressed more quickly, more consistently, and with a better veterinary question in mind. I am not just receiving an alert, but also the context. And that allows me, as a veterinarian, to act much more precisely – both at the individual animal level and at herd level.”

What role do fever and rumination alerts play in your daily practice?

“A very significant one. When I arrive on a farm, the first thing I ask is: ‘What do the alerts look like? How many fever alerts are there? How many rumination alerts? Are there any indications of stress, feeding issues, or water intake?’ This is now part of my standard communication with the farm.”

Does smaXtec also support you in communicating with farmers in general?

“Absolutely. The major advantage is that I do not have to sound the alarm for every single cow. If a veterinarian constantly sounds the alarm, people eventually stop listening. With smaXtec, however, I have an independent system that objectively does its job. This makes communication much clearer. When I say that action is required, it carries a completely different weight. The farmer sees that this is not just veterinary intuition, and we can look at the data together. That creates acceptance, speed, and, above all, consistency in implementation.”

How does smaXtec specifically support you in the early detection and treatment of diseases?

“This is exactly where the system is extremely valuable. When a cow shows abnormalities in water intake, rumination, and temperature, I can start diagnostics very early. We really look at the very first flakes: is this more likely an E. coli case? Is it Streptococcus uberis? Do we need to act immediately at full intensity, or can we take a more differentiated approach? For me, this is the gold standard – there is hardly anything better at the moment. And after treatment, we continue to monitor: is the cow eating again? Is it ruminating again? Is the treatment working, or do we need to adjust? This has long since become standard practice.”

You often mention water intake as well. Why is this parameter so valuable?

“Because it reveals an incredible amount about both the cow and the farm. Other systems often provide more superficial signals, but without water intake, a crucial piece is missing in my view. One example: on one farm, we lowered the drinking trough height from 80–90 centimetres to 70 centimetres. Afterwards, the cows drank around 30 litres more per day. You cannot see such correlations intuitively – you only see them clearly in the data. And that is exactly what makes the system so powerful.”

What changes do you see in reproductive management?

“On well-managed farms, we see truly significant effects. I am not talking about minor improvements, but about farms that are already performing at a high level and still achieve a noticeable leap with smaXtec. Heat detection and insemination timing are now much more precise. When you increase a conception rate from 50–60% to 85% in high-performance herds, that is a substantial improvement.”

How does smaXtec impact the planning of your daily work?

“It saves time and fundamentally restructures farm visits. On larger farms, I often spend about half an hour less on examinations. I use that time elsewhere – reviewing feed, checking the silage, or discussing systemic topics with the farm. Overall, we work much more efficiently, and that elevates herd management to a completely different level. I say this very deliberately: we were already in the Premier League before, and with smaXtec, we are now in the Champions League.”

Your personal conclusion: why should veterinarians engage with smaXtec, even if they are not yet convinced by the system?

“Because I was that sceptical veterinarian myself. At the beginning, I found it unusual and viewed many aspects critically. Today, I openly say that this was, in many respects, a misjudgement. If you truly engage with it, smaXtec is not a threat, but an evolution of your own work. And in the end, that is exactly the point: the system does not replace veterinary expertise. It makes it more effective.”