Inside-The-Cow Monitoring Offers Health Data

Inside-The-Cow Monitoring Offers Health Data As dairy producers seek practical tools to improve animal health, labor efficiency, and day-to-day decision-making, the smaXtec internal bolus offers a clear example of where livestock technology is headed. Designed to monitor adult bovines from inside the body, the system provides a steady stream of information to help producers respond earlier to issues and manage more confidently. The bolus is administered like a calcium bolus and settles in the reticulum, next to the rumen, where it can detect rumen contractions. It’s heavy enough to remain in place, so it won’t pass through the cow, allowing it to collect ongoing data from a consistent internal location. “This Classic bolus reads internal body temperature, rumination, water intake, activity and calving alerts connected to the temperature assessment and can determine health status, from temperature increase or decrease,” says Allissa Frisle, smaXtec Dairy Management Advisor. The bolus is powered by an internal battery that typically lasts 4 to 5 years, depending on how far it must transmit data to the farm’s base station. The base station uses an AT&T SIM card, so no Wi-Fi is required. Data moves from the bolus to the station, then to the cloud, and back to a phone or computer. The system updates regularly within about a 200-ft dia. The company’s customer support model is built on four steps: analysis, installation, onboarding and community. “This is important because data alone isn’t enough,” Frisle says. “Producers need to understand what the information means and how to use it in real time.” During the analysis stage, a salesperson evaluates the farm to determine the number of base stations required. “On the install date, when we administer the boluses, our dairy management advisor will come out, set up the base station, and help bolus the cows,” Frisle says. “If a cow outlives the bolus, another one can be given.” After the installation stage, the onboarding process is central to making the system useful. Frisle explains that the dairy management advisory team works closely with producers to help them interpret data and ensure the system runs properly. Onboarding is typically an intensive 3-mo period, followed by monthly or quarterly check-ins to address questions and prevent problems. The community portion extends this support through the digital smaXtec Academy, expert webinars, and exclusive networking and exchange events. The customer success team is also available by phone, email or directly through the smaXtec software. Because the system is cloud-based, producers don’t need to rely on a single farm computer. Owners, herdsmen and other team members can access information through an app with individual logins, while veterinarians and nutritionists can be granted read-only access. A web browser option is also available. “Each bolus stores data up to 6 days, and when the information is transmitted into the computer or app, it’s there for a cow’s lifetime. Clients see everything from a current install through archived cows years later,” Frisle says. Headquartered in Austria, smaXtec has subsidiaries in the U.K., Ireland, New Zealand and across Europe, with expansion into the U.S. Its dairy management advisors can support customers nearby or remotely. “We have a tried-and-true product supported by people who grew up in the industry to help you understand the cow side, plus a whole team of data scientists using AI and algorithms to assist in farm practicality,” Frisle mentions. Boluses are long-lasting and include rumination data as part of a single service, rather than a confusing set of add-ons. Because each farm is unique, Frisle recommends that interested customers contact smaXtec directly to discuss short and long-term pricing that fits their operation. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, smaXtec Systems, 5315 Wall St., Ste. 170, Madison, Wis. 53718 (ph 608-817-6160; info@smaXtec.com; www.smaxtec.com/us).

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