Discover how AI and computer vision technology can reduce calf mortality and extend cow productive life
In our last blog post, “How Precision Feeding Boosts Profitability and Sustainability on a Dairy Farm,” we explored how small changes to the nutrient makeup, mixing, and timing of feed can significantly impact producers’ bottom lines and how Ever.Ag’s solution, Feed King, can assist in reaching this goal.
This week, we turn our attention to another crucial trend in dairy: the growing importance of extending a cow’s productive life and eliminating avoidable deaths. Ever.Ag’s newest dairy on-farm solution, Maternity Warden, helps farmers achieve this by notifying farm staff of impending calvings with the help of AI and computer vision.
In an article published by the Journal of Dairy Science, Albert De Vries states, “dairy cattle productive lifespan averages approximately three years after first calving,” but “a simple model of the economically optimal productive lifespan. . . suggest[s] that an average lifespan of approximately 5 years is warranted.”
De Vries arrives at his five-year recommendation by considering “the tradeoffs between herd replacement cost, maturity and aging costs, genetic opportunity cost, and calf value opportunity cost.”
Voicing a similar sentiment to De Vries, Ryne Braun, Ever.Ag’s Director of Dairy On-Farm Solutions said, “Cows need to stay around longer. That includes adult cows leaving in the first 60 days and newborns, making sure they’re born in the right spot, taken care of, and raised effectively because they are your genetic future.”
Examining pre-fresh procedures
Dairy farmers already work hard to keep their cows healthy and productive. However, De Vries’ findings suggest that farmers should look closely at every stage of their cows’ lives on their farms to find ways to keep them productive longer.
Farmers can align themselves with De Vries and Braun’s advice while improving operational efficiency and profitability by reducing early exits from the herd and adding lactation cycles.
Before calving, cows experience significant changes. Producers typically move their pre-fresh cows to separate pens and change their diet. Although these modifications are designed to benefit the cow’s health and future, they cause stress for the cows.
Calving practices
The next stage for producers to examine is the calving process. A successful birth often hinges on the farmer’s ability to recognize calving symptoms early and to promptly move those cows to an isolated pen.
Because cows’ instinct is to seek seclusion during labor, a well-timed movement to a calm, isolated area can promote a more relaxed birth. An isolated area benefits the cows and allows farmers to better observe the cow and assess whether outside intervention is necessary for the health of the cow or calf.
A comfortable and closely monitored birth can contribute to a healthier calf, a smoother recovery for the calving dam, and a more productive lactation cycle.
Maternity Warden
A difficulty all dairy farmers face is that cows sometimes hide labor symptoms from humans because they want to protect their calves from potential predators. Even so, identifying labor visually is still the most effective choice.
Maternity Warden solves this problem through cameras on your close-up pen. The technology harnesses the power of AI and computer vision to notify you when a cow’s calving symptoms reach a critical threshold.
With Maternity Warden, you don’t have to worry about missing a birth and risking the health of your calving dam or calf. Learn more about Maternity Warden and how it can revolutionize your farm today!
