GIVE REPLACEMENT CALVES A BETTER START WITH SENSEHUB YOUNGSTOCK
Using a herd monitoring system to detect heat events, fertility issues and developing health problems enables herd managers to maximise the productivity of the adult cows and heifers under their care. But unless replacement heifer calves are managed with the same degree of accuracy, the herd’s longer-term productivity could be compromised.
The health of replacement heifer calves has a long-lasting bearing on the herd’s future performance, with any dieases, respiratory infections or welfare issues encountered during the animal’s first 12 months having the potential to reduce its fertility and productivity later in life. Ensuring youngstock are healthy and disease-free is therefore critical to the herd’s future viability.
A study* in 2017 estimated that respiratory infection during a replacement heifer’s first 12 months can affect fertility and milk yield later in life:
- Two-week delay to first calving
- 4% reduction in first lactation mik yield
- 8% reduction in second lactation mik yield
- Lifetime reduction of 109 days in milk
- Reduction in daily liveweight gain due to reduced feed intake
* Bartram et al., VALUE IN HEALTH 20 (2017) A399–A811
Weighing less than 21 grammes, SenseHub® Youngstock electronic ear tags can be used to monitor the health of calves from the day of birth onwards, and to provide an early warning of any potential health problems, often before the affected calf has displayed any visible symptoms.
Herd managers can then intervene to assess and treat calves sooner, with existing users reporting earlier intervention results in faster recovery from diseases such as scour and pneumonia.
On average, most calf populations will suffer a mortality rate of approximately 10% due to diarrhoea or respiratory disease. Using SenseHub Youngstock has been shown to reduce this to less than 5%.
SenseHub Youngstock also reduces the need for staff to be on the farm around the clock to spot problems, and ensures each calf gets off to the best possible start so that it can make a positive contribution to the herd’s income sooner.
A unique monitoring system
Thanks to its unique ability to monitor the activity and behavioural patterns of calves from the day of birth, SenseHub Youngstock gives herd managers the peace of mind that their replacement heifers are always being observed. As soon as a reduction in feeding, or any abnormal behavioural patterns which could be symptomatic of a health issue have been detected, the SenseHub app automatically raises an alert so that the relevant animal can be isolated or treated as soon as possible and begin its recovery to full health.
Despite being the lightest monitoring ear tags on the market, SenseHub Youngstock tags also contain a programmable flashing LED which makes it easier and quicker to locate the animal in need of help. This not only saves time and labour but also ensures any applicable treatment can be administered sooner.
SenseHub Youngstock can be used as a standalone system or in combination with other SenseHub Dairy plans which monitor the reproduction and rumination status of heifers and adult cows.
SenseHub Youngstock can be paid for on subscription: with zero upfront costs, a SenseHub GO subscription provides access to all the necessary SenseHub hardware, software and after sales support with no hidden extras, additional costs or capital depreciation losses.
