By Dr. Joe Menicucci, TDA veterinarian
Some people are exceptionally good at finding and treating sick calves. But what if you could identify sick calves and intervene before they show clinical signs? With ear tag sensors you can.
The ear tag sensors available for use in pre-weaned calves today were designed for early disease detection. Earlier detection means less antibiotic use, faster recovery, less death loss and the sensors can provide feedback that allows calf managers to make meaningful management changes to improve overall calf health and welfare. Ear tag sensors do not replace people. They empower people.
Currently there are two ear tag sensor products available for monitoring young calves. The SenseHub Dairy Youngstock tag tracks suckling, eating time, activity, eating and rumination and can be used from birth through 12 months of age. The CowManager for Youngstock ear tag tracks activity, eating time, rumination and ear temperature throughout the animal’s life. Both systems provide alerts through an app on your phone or computer to help calf raisers find calves that need attention sooner.
Dairies that use ear sensor technology with pre-weaned calves report positive results. 24/7 real time monitoring that sends an alert when calves fall outside of their defined normal is a powerful monitoring tool. But it doesn’t replace daily visual checks by calf personnel. (For more on calf monitoring please see “Does Your Calf Monitoring Program Help Calves Thrive?”). Because sometimes a calf looks normal at feeding time, but a monitoring alert reveals they have an elevated temperature. And sometimes a calf feeder notices a calf seems “off” but does not show any clinical signs of illness, and the alert confirms that yes, that calf needs a physical exam. That’s why you need both working together – an exceptional calf care team plus sensor monitoring — to take your calf raising program and your herd to the next level.
The main messages I have heard from dairies that use ear tag sensors include:
- Labor efficiency has improved. Employees are doing more now because technology helps them pinpoint calves that need attention.
- Reduction in overall treatment cost, fewer antibiotics, fewer electrolytes, and less time spent treating sick calves.
- Reduced mortality and morbidity rates.
- Calves seem to be growing better; groups of calves are more uniform with no chronic poor-doers.
- Employees will need training on how to read reports, tailor reports, and how to mine the data for helpful information to manage calves.
Pre-weaned calves are the future of your dairy. Monitoring calf health is no longer just about finding and treating sick calves. It’s about protecting your genetic investment, and helping those calves thrive and grow into healthy, productive cows that will sustain and grow your dairy farm business.
To learn more about using ear tag sensors for calf monitoring, talk to your TDA veterinarian.
%20(1)%20(1).webp)
