Year one with CowManager is often about trust. Year two is about unlocking potential.

Once CowManager is installed, producers spend the first several months learning the alerts, understanding the technology, and building confidence in the system. The CowManager ear sensors measure behavior and temperature. Based on this data, both individual and group alerts are calculated.

The dashboard is an easy-to-use visual representation of real-time data, designed to simplify daily routines. All relevant alerts and insights are displayed in one place through various widgets. The onboarding process ensures producers know how to respond to alerts and leverage the basics.

Year two is where proactive management, integration with farm management software, and team consistency turn insights into measurable impact. Here’s how top dairies make that shift.

Moving beyond basics: integrating farm management software

After year one, the real value emerges when integration deepens between CowManager and on-farm systems, including farm management software. These integrations increase efficiency by reducing double entry and streamlining workflows.

For example, CowManager integrates with herd management and farm management software to synchronize cow data and monitor compliance more effectively, ensuring farm protocols are consistently followed. When pregnancy check results are integrated into herd-management software, it becomes easier to identify discrepancies in protocol execution.

The level of impact depends on herd size and management style, but nearly every dairy can unlock value by advancing these integrations.

The overlooked details

Compliance is not just about following protocols, it is about protecting profitability. Too often, basic compliance such as tag maintenance gets overlooked. Low batteries on multiple tags can compromise accuracy and trust in the system, no different than missing steps in a breeding protocol.

Consider this: What if an employee skipped part of the Ovsynch sequence? Breeding effectiveness would plummet, leading to more days open, lower conception rates, and ultimately higher costs. By monitoring alerts and compliance through CowManager, these breakdowns can be caught early.

Breeding and reproduction strategy with data and farm management software

CowManager data allows tracking of historic heats and real-time compliance. When combined with farm management software, this data becomes even more valuable for decision-making.

For example, if three open cows showed heat alerts but were not inseminated before the next vet check, how would that affect palpation rates? If heat alerts were correlated with insemination records in farm management software, how many days open could be saved? These “what if” analyses highlight not only the cost of inaction but the profitability of improved compliance.

Producers should ensure optimal utilization of Fertility Insights by reviewing management settings within the CowManager web application. Parameters such as average cycle lengths, deviations from norms, and voluntary waiting periods can be customized to align with specific herd requirements.

Health and transition management

The same concept applies to health. What if a review of cows that were sold or died, using insights from CowManager and farm management software, revealed missed sick alerts? What if transition cows were managed by listening to eating minutes instead of relying solely on pen moves?

With CowManager, producers can “listen to the cows.” For example, eating-time data in the fresh pen can identify at-risk animals before visible symptoms. These proactive shifts can reduce treatment costs, improve survival, and shorten recovery times.

Tools within CowManager help detect transition diseases such as ketosis and mastitis up to 50 days before calving. This simplifies transition management, especially when symptoms are difficult to detect naturally. With 75% of adult-cow diseases occurring in the first 30 days after calving, early intervention makes a significant difference.

Symptoms of ketosis, such as loss of appetite, weight loss, and sweet-smelling breath, are difficult to detect early without monitoring. Likewise, early signs of mastitis, including swelling, heat, or hardness in the udder, are easily missed, especially in large herds. Mastitis severely affects milk production, making early identification critical to both animal health and business performance.

Team approach to success

The dairies that have the most success with CowManager use it as part of a broader team strategy, often alongside farm management software. Consultants, veterinarians, and nutritionists are brought into the data conversation.

After year one, involving this advisory team becomes even more valuable. Together, they shape protocols, adapt management practices, and find new efficiencies that drive profitability.

The difference between “working” and “winning” often lies in consistency. Employees must interpret alerts the same way every time. Multiview enables consultants, veterinarians, and nutritionists to participate, turning individual data points into shared strategies.

Simple SOPs for common alerts ensure that whether it is heat detection or a sick-cow alert, everyone knows the next step.

Looking deeper: connecting data, genetics, and performance

CowManager also offers opportunities to connect cow data with genetics. By analyzing how specific genetic indexes correlate with health alerts, alongside data from farm management software, producers can identify traits linked to stronger performance.

This influences both current herd decisions and future breeding strategies.

Year one establishes trust in CowManager. Year two is where real potential is unlocked through integration, compliance, data-driven protocols, and team collaboration. By moving from reactive to proactive management, dairies shift from simply using alerts to truly transforming herd performance.

CowManager works. The question is: Are you using it to its full potential?

Talk with your CentralStar team about CowManager and how to unlock its full potential.

Author: Jared Krull, Vice President of Sales & Service, CowManager North America

One Story, Many Farms

No matter where a farm is located, cost is always part of the conversation. In Ireland, dairy farmer Sean Corby put it plainly: “Like all farmers, I’d like tools to be cheaper – but CowManager is a fantastic product and working very well here so far.”

That balance between investment and results is familiar everywhere. Farmers weigh every decision carefully, and value becomes clear only when a system proves itself over time.

For Canadian farmer Lynn Moore, that proof came through years of use. “I believe I’ve had CowManager since 2015 and I couldn’t be happier. It’s an excellent product; keep it up!”

Sticking with a system for nearly a decade isn’t about features on paper. It’s about consistency, trust, and knowing the system supports better decisions year after year.

From Tool to Partnership

With the right results and support, a tool becomes a partnership.

For many farmers, confidence in technology grows step by step. In the United States, producer Ryan Carbaugh from Waterside Farm described how results in one part of the operation led to broader adoption.

“I enjoy CowManager. It really works. We started using it on our heifers and had instant success: heifers bred on first and second services. We’re now experimenting with it in our tie stall barn and pasture setup. Seeing those results made me jump in.”

That’s how technology earns its place on a farm. Not through promises, but by delivering results where it matters most.

For others, the value goes beyond performance alone. Catching issues early can make the difference between a small intervention and a serious setback – for both cows and farmers.

In Germany, animal welfare is a top priority for farmer Uwe Petzold: “We’re very satisfied. From an animal welfare point of view, I think the system should be mandatory. We were able to treat cows before major problems occurred.”

Why These Stories Matter

Real experiences – positive, critical, and practical – help set realistic expectations and support better decisions on-farm.

As this new year gets underway, these voices reflect what dairy farming truly looks like: constant decisions, tight margins, and a clear focus on tools and services that help keep cows healthier and farms running more efficiently.

CowManager Success Story of the Year

“It is an honor to recognize these award winners and share their success stories,” says Gerard Griffioen, founder of CowManager. “Our partnership with Select Sires allows us to collaborate with industry leaders and exceptional U.S. dairy producers. We are proud to take part in this summit and celebrate those who exceed expectations.”

Schaap Dairies, based in Eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle, has been named the 2025 CowManager Success Story of the Year. The Schaap Family Dairy network includes three operations—Pleasant Hill Dairy, High Lonesome Dairy and North Point Dairy—collectively managing about 20,000 cows.

The dairies first experienced CowManager through an XL Program trial and have since fully implemented the system, including the company’s sort-gate technology at all three locations. Since then, they’ve seen notable improvements in pregnancy, conception and heat-detection rates, resulting in stronger overall reproductive performance.

Up-and-Coming CowManager Specialist

Carson Hillberg of Select Sires Members Cooperative in California has been named the 2025 Up-and-Coming CowManager Specialist. Hillberg was recognized for consistently going above and beyond for both colleagues and customers, exemplifying what it means to be a true team player. He has played a pivotal role in the success of the XL Program, guiding large-herd dairies from initial trials through full adoption.

His contributions extend across several key areas, including CowManager sort gates, calf trials, blinking wand technology and system integrations. Hillberg is also on track to finish near the top of the leaderboard for tag sales in 2025.

CowManager Specialist of the Year

Matt Staner of CentralStar Cooperative in Wisconsin earned the 2025 CowManager Specialist of the Year Award. This award honors Stef Booijink and is given annually to a Specialist who demonstrates exceptional system knowledge, extensive installation experience and expert guidance on system integration.

Staner was recognized for his passion for the product, outstanding customer support and meticulous attention to detail. His accomplishments in 2025 include completing six installations, further underscoring his dedication and expertise.

Dr. Ray Nebel Legacy Award

Brandon Thesing of Select Sires Member Coop in Minnesota received the Dr. Ray Nebel Legacy Award. This award honors Ray Nebel, Ph.D., retired vice president of technical services and a driving force behind Select Sires’ partnership with CowManager. Thesing was recognized for his exceptional work ethic, collaborative approach to promoting and selling CowManager, and his commitment to going above and beyond to meet customer needs. A true advocate for the cow monitoring system, he is dedicated to making a meaningful, everyday difference for producers.

Special Thanks

In addition, CowManager recognized Jared Krull for his outstanding leadership, dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence. As Vice President of Sales and Service at CowManager USA, Krull has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth across the United States.

His strategic vision and hands-on support have helped producers not only adopt CowManager’s technology, but also maximize its value on their operations. His contributions continue to strengthen CowManager’s presence in the U.S. market and elevate the success of producers nationwide.

About CowManager

At CowManager, we believe a successful dairy producer is a prepared dairy producer. With our revolutionary cow monitoring ear sensors, we ensure they’re always ahead and prepared for what’s coming, with actionable insights. We believe in working together to help dairy farmers reach their goals, whatever their ambitions are. Whether they have 20 or 20,000 cows; with CowManager they’ll have eyes on all of them.

In the United States, CowManager is distributed and supported by Select Sires Inc. For more information on CowManager, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires.

Year-Round Demands

Running a mixed feeding operation with multiple calving cycles means this farm needs a system that can perform every day of the year.

It’s a pasture-based system but they feed a lot of grain, batch hay and buy local hay in the area to feed the cows and youngstock. They calf four times a year – in February, May, August and November.

The family relies on shared oversight to stay on top of things, made easier by connected tools and shared data.

“Every milking cow has a sensor – we’re at about 600 now. My brother uses the platform and so does my father; we all keep a close eye on the cows together”, James says.

Boosting Repro and Health

With constant joining and a heavy focus on animal health, they needed a system that would give reliable insights and real-time alerts. CowManager fit the bill.

“We started using the CowManager system 2 years ago. We chose the CowManager sensors for the backup support and because we prefer ear tags over collars.”

Their use of both the Fertility and Health modules allows them to handle reproduction and wellbeing with confidence.

James explains: “The Fertility Module is important because we’re joining all year round, and we just use AI. And the Health Module is important as well for seeing how the cows are eating, and if we have any sick cows.”

He adds: “You get notifications from the app all day so if something happens and it needs your attention; you’ve got all information straight away.”

Integration into existing infrastructure also made the transition seamless.

“CowManager integrates seamlessly with the dairy software. We use Jantec in the dairy and it was as simple as ringing up Jantec to make sure it all works properly. We haven’t had any issues since. The benefit of them being integrated is that all the CowManager alerts go straight into Jantec. So, all of the heat and health alerts automatically come up when we want to draft.”

Less Guesswork

Where before, James and his family were relying on visual methods like stickers, they’ve now gone fully digital—and haven’t looked back.

“One of the biggest benefits has been heat detection. We were using stickers beforehand, but after 2 weeks of using both stickers and CowManager, the stickers disappeared. We just rely on the CowManager system now for heats – it’s more accurate.”

The simplicity and clarity of the system’s data makes day-to-day work easier.

“All the data in the system is easy to find and very easy to understand. You can look up individual cows to find pretty much anything. The reports on the pc are really handy as well. It gives you early indications of how many you’ve got in calf, any suspect aborted cows that you can get rechecked.”

And with the added control of sexed semen timing, they can be more strategic in their decisions.

“We use the Insemination Window to select the right cows for sexed semen. If they’re not in the right window and they’re too early, then we’ll not join them in the morning and wait ‘till the PM to join them.”

Faster Action

Frequent calving can increase the risk of health issues, but CowManager’s alerts are helping them act earlier and faster, according to James.

“The health alerts from CowManager are really good. They pick on rumination and eating and can tell you how the cows are performing. But for sick alerts, the temperature alert is the best. It gives you very quick information on whether a cow is actually sick and needs treating.”

This has been especially valuable during calving, when milk fever can strike suddenly.

“Just because we’re calving so often, the temperature alert from CowManager picks up a lot of cases of milk fever. We can see from the phone straight away if a cow is down and needs treating. You get an alert, and you know which cows to look out for. Whereas before CowManager, we were checking every cow individually to make sure that she wasn’t sick.”

Essential Technology

With constant calving, intensive feed systems, and a large herd, this Victorian farm shows how digital tools like CowManager are not just convenient, but essential.

“The installation was really easy; it only took about 3 or 4 hours. They (WWS Australia) helped set up all the solar routers and routers and get it all connected.”

With the whole family now involved in managing the herd through a single platform, there’s more confidence in every decision.

“I’d recommend CowManager to anyone who asks what system we’re using, or if anyone has any doubts about getting a system. I’d strongly recommend getting CowManager”, James says.

Dairy News Australia

This article was previously published by Dairy News Australia.

Data-Driven Decisions

I grew up in the era dial-up internet, road atlases and my first smart phone was a BlackBerry. I learned to breed cows in high school and through internships and industry have been lucky to work with herds of every size and all around the globe. Yet, here I sit still below the average age of a US dairy farmer.

The evolution of dairy farming over my lifetime is enough to write multiple books on. However, the part I am most excited about is the move to data-driven decision making. For once we have the tools available to let the cow be the source of truth and remove the bias.

Transformational Technology

Wearable activity systems were once a very operational tool letting users know when cows were in heat or how many steps they took. Today’s insights allow dairy producers to be more proactive than ever, giving users a competitive advantage. Those that go beyond the basics make a transformational change in how they dairy.

There are pieces of data from a sensor system that offers insights to managers and employees within the entire dairy. Imagine the productivity of stakeholder meetings when everyone brings facts verses opinions to the table. From calves to cows – every animal on the dairy has a voice.

On-Farm Investments

There’s no doubt that dry cows are the most under the radar group of cows on the dairy. They require minimal labor and minimal inputs. Yet they give us some of the biggest warning signs during the dry period on how their transition to lactation is going to go. Dairies that use these insights to navigate this crucial time get their cows off to a healthier start – which leads to gains in productivity and reproduction.

When we talk about creating clear visions for the future and cultural shifts amongst staff, it is imperative that the team sees the value of technology and how it works for them and not the other way around. The quickest way to kill a good investment is by internal sabotage. After all, data-driven decisions don’t just happen in the office, they come to life in the barn.

Wagner Farms: A Family Dedicated to Progress

Owned and operated by Hank and Pam Wagner, along with their son Shawn Wagner and daughter Laura Raatz and her husband Tyler Raatz, Wagner Farms is home to 950 cows milked in a double-16 parallel parlor. The family’s focus is on developing functional cows that combine strong production with good health traits for long-term sustainability.

During the Virtual Farm Tour, Laura Raatz delivered an engaging and inspiring presentation, offering attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the family’s daily operations, technology integration, and commitment to continuous improvement. Her thoughtful insights and enthusiasm reflected the family’s dedication to both their people and their cows, earning praise from attendees for her clarity, warmth, and authenticity.

People. Animals. Environment

At Wagner Farms, People are the cornerstone of success. Team members are treated as an extension of the Wagner family, contributing to a farm culture rooted in teamwork, efficiency, and enjoyment. The Wagner’s believe that creating an environment where people love what they do helps fuel passion and drive long-term success. Mentorship, milestone celebrations, and camaraderie are everyday parts of life on the farm.

Animals are at the heart of every decision. From birth, calves receive attentive care guided by precise management systems—including the CowManager Youngstock Monitor. This technology supports growth rates exceeding 2.5 pounds per day and has helped the farm achieve an exceptional near 0% death loss—or as they proudly describe it, a 100% survival rate.

Environmental Leadership and Innovation

Environmental stewardship is equally important to the Wagners. As a demonstration site for conservation practices, Wagner Farms showcases innovative systems that enhance productivity while protecting natural resources. Their autonomous irrigation system delivers water and nutrients directly to crops, reducing nutrient loss, lowering costs, easing manure management, and increasing yields—demonstrating how technology can drive both sustainability and profitability.

CowManager’s Commitment to Supporting Dairy Excellence

CowManager’s sponsorship of the Wagner Farms Virtual Tour reflects its mission to empower dairy producers with data-driven insights that improve herd performance, animal welfare, and farm efficiency. Through innovations such as lifetime monitoring, the CowManager App, and the award-winning Youngstock Monitor, producers can make proactive decisions that lead to healthier cows and more efficient operations.

“Supporting events like the World Dairy Expo Virtual Farm Tours allows us to highlight producers who exemplify the best in dairy farming,” said Gerard Griffioen, founder of CowManager. “The Wagner family represents the spirit of innovation, care, and leadership that defines the dairy industry today.”

Embracing Tech

Running a pasture-based operation across 200 hectares, Brady and his family were looking for a way to streamline herd monitoring; especially when it came to heat detection.

Brady: “We milk 300 cows – mostly Jerseys – and are a 100% pasture-based system on 200 hectares. We started working with CowManager in December 2021. We wanted a heat detection system and had a look at a few others, but CowManager is what we chose.”

Their decision to choose CowManager was based on both the functionality and ease of setup, which made implementing it across the farm a smooth process.

Ease of Use

Modern dairy tech needs to work with the farm’s existing environment. For Brady, the CowManager system did just that—powered entirely by solar.

“The whole farm is networked on a solar setup. It’s been very simple. I think we’ve got 7 solar routers.”

He adds: “Installation of the system was very simple. They (representatives from WWS Australia) came out here and helped us put the sensors in and put the routers up.”

Once the system was in place, it didn’t take long for it to become part of the daily rhythm on the farm. CowManager’s ease of use is a recurring theme for Brady and his dad.

“Working with the system is extremely simple and it’s worked really well”, he says. “Me and my father, we both use the data sharing function, so we’ve both got it and know what’s happening all the time.”

Brady continues: “We find it very easy to read the system. The graphs are very easy to understand and they’re all colour-coded for their activity. It’s good when you’re away from the farm. It’s just made it a lot easier. When I’m not here or my father’s not here, it’s made things a lot simpler.”

Smarter Heat Detection Means Better Joining

CowManager’s heat detection module has helped the Crofts improve the accuracy and timing of joining, especially with all cows submitted to AI. They’re using both the heat and health modules—ensuring year-round visibility into herd performance.

“We use the Fertility Module for heat detection, for our joining. And the Health Module we use all year round, just to keep an eye on the cows’ overall health.”

“Probably the main advantage of the heat detection is getting your cows joined at the right time. And the fertility reports, that’s a good one. So, you can pick up cows that may be cycling odd or not cycling at all.”

“We’ve seen a lot better conception and a lot better first round submission rate, too. Because you can pick up those cows that aren’t quite right and you can get them sorted early. You’re submitting every cow to AI, so it’s been a lot better.”

“We started using sexed semen within the last 2 years with CowManager. And now they’ve got the little timing graph (Insemination Window) on there, which makes it a lot easier to use, too.”

Early Alerts Save Cows

Health monitoring plays just as important a role as fertility on a busy dairy, especially during calving. With CowManager, problems are identified before they become emergencies.

“During calving time, you might get an alert for a cow that’s a bit less active, and you keep an eye on her. She might have milk fever or even an issue. This year we’ve had a couple of LDA’s (displaced abomasum). CowManager picked them up before we did, so it’s done its job there.”

Those early alerts don’t just save cows – they save costs, too.

“If you’ve got a crook cow, you’re picking them up before they really go downhill. So, if you save yourselves a few cows, you’re probably earning back your subscription costs every year. Just on a few cows that you might pick up, might keep in the herd, or a few extra pregnancies; it all adds up.”

Dairy News Australia

This article was previously published by Dairy News Australia.

A Decade of Growth and Success

Since tagging our first cow in New Zealand in 2014, CowManager has steadily grown to support hundreds of forward-thinking farms across the country. Over the past 10 years, our presence has built a solid foundation, and now, with a direct presence in New Zealand, CowManager is accelerating its efforts and continuing to help farmers thrive with enhanced support and capabilities.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth and success over the years, and now it’s time to take the next step,” says Jared Bekhuis, Managing Director of CowManager NZ.

“By adding specialists and establishing our direct presence in New Zealand, we’re enhancing our capabilities to deliver faster, more expert service exactly where it’s needed. At the same time, we are expanding our portfolio with exciting innovations like Draft my Cow, the Youngstock Monitor, and Find my Cow Flash. These new solutions will provide our farmers with even more powerful tools to optimize their operations and improve herd management. And we’re just getting started-keep an eye out for even more cutting-edge advancements that will further transform the way we support our farmers.”

This transition opens an exciting new chapter for CowManager. With more resources and local expertise, we’re better positioned to offer tailored solutions and increased responsiveness, helping farmers achieve even greater success with our innovative solutions.

“New Zealand’s dairy sector is world-renowned for its excellence,” Bekhuis adds. “We’re proud to contribute to its ongoing success and invest in the future of every farmer we serve.”

What This Means for You

The contracts between CowManager and our valued customers will remain unchanged. Your terms, support, and service remain intact, with no alterations to your agreement.

• All current dealer employees will continue with CowManager NZ, along with additional new team members to enhance our support network.
• Our new office will be located at 3/137 Ossie James Drive, Hamilton Airport.
• You can reach us at our new office phone number: 0800 – 770566 or support@cowmanager.com per Saturday, August 16.
• We’ll be providing new contact details for your respective contact people, including support staff. They will be in touch soon to share their updated contact information, ensuring a smooth transition.

Looking Ahead

With a stronger local presence, CowManager NZ will work even harder to deliver the best possible experience for our farmers. As always, we are here to ensure that you’re well-supported and prepared for whatever comes next in your dairy operation.

We look forward to continuing our journey together and working with you to achieve even greater success.

About CowManager

At CowManager, we are committed to providing dairy farmers with the tools they need to succeed. Our revolutionary cow monitoring ear sensors help farmers stay ahead with actionable insights on herd health, nutrition, fertility, and more. Whether you have 20 or 125,000 cows, CowManager ensures that farmers always have eyes on their herd. Learn more at www.cowmanager.com/newzealand.

1: Set Mating Goals

Before you kick off mating season, take a minute to decide what your main mating goals are. Are you looking to improve genetics, improve milk production or replacement heifers? Narrowing your goals down in advance will help you make informed decisions for breeding and mating.

2: Check on Your Cows

Make sure potentially underperforming cows are on your radar early on so you can still make the adjustments needed to ensure they’ll do well during mating. Unsure? Have your vet or breeding specialist analyse your cows’ performance by adding them in MultiView. CowManager’s Nutrition Module helps you identify at-risk cows up to 50 days before calving.

3: Consider Fertility Testing

Fertility testing your cows can help identify any reproductive issues that may affect their performance during mating season, such as infections or hormonal imbalances. Identifying and addressing these issues beforehand could save you a lot of stress and pain down the road.

4: Prep Your Paddocks

Take time to set the mood and make sure your cows will be comfortable. Ensure that your mating paddocks are in good condition and provide adequate shelter and clean water for your cows.

5: Develop a Mating Plan

A well-thought-out breeding plan is key to achieve your goals. Consider factors such as timing, synchronization protocols, available staff, and the selection of appropriate sires. Have plan Bs at the ready in case of any contingencies, such as weather disruptions.

6: Keep Track of Everything

Keep detailed records of everything leading up to, during, and after mating season. Record mating dates, sire information, and any fertility testing results. This will help you analyse results and help identify risks, and your future self will be eternally grateful to you for being so thorough. CowManager’s Fertility Insights helps you keep detailed records of all your cows’ cycles.

7: Monitor Heat Detection

Go for success: Rely on CowManager’s Fertility Module and never miss a heat. Make sure all cows are tagged with the ear sensor so you can recognise peak heats, pregnancies, non-cycling cows and potential abortions. Make sure your entire staff knows which alerts to look out for and give them access to the system by simply adding their email addresses in MultiView.

“We’ve increased our six week in calf rate by about 15%, so we’ve gone up to 78% in our six week in calf rate. Our empty rate has dropped from about 24% down to 13%. It’s quite substantial, yeah. We’re also picking up those silent heats that we weren’t able to pick up beforehand.” – Mike Marshall, Otago farmer. Watch his full story.

8: Keep Your Herd Healthy

A healthy herd equals a healthy base to build your breeding season upon. Work closely with your vet and team to make sure your cows are as healthy as possible before breeding season begins and throughout, and make sure your cows are getting the nutrition they need to be successful. CowManager’s Health Module can help you monitor health as well as discovery.

9: Make Sure You’re Up to Date

Make sure the systems you use are updated to the newest version available before the season starts. This goes for your cow monitoring system, your herd management system, as well as your drafting gate. Good to know: If you’re using CowManager and some ear sensors are close to underperforming, the system will alert you of this months in advance.

“Basically, CowManager finds a cow on heat and the gate drafts them out after the morning milkings. With the two systems we’re saving a labour unit over mating, that’s for sure. Nobody needs to think about anything, really.” – Ruurd Dijkstra, Waikato farmer. Discover the full story.

10: Be Willing to Make Changes

A prepared farmer is a successful farmer, but sometimes life throws us curveballs. Be prepared to make last-minute adjustments to your plan if any unforeseen weather or health conditions pop up. Just make sure to keep monitoring closely and keep detailed records.

Dairy farming in Somerset with real-time insights

“Since I’ve had CowManager installed, I haven’t had any DAs,” Max explains. “That’s purely because CowManager is picking up sick cows much quicker than I would have.”

With 390 sensors in place across his herd of Holstein Fusions, Max now relies on real-time data and alerts to make fast, informed decisions.

Better heat detection and more efficient breeding

CowManager helps him track heats accurately, manage breeding more efficiently, and reduce health risks. “I use it for non-seen bullers, and it accurately identifies peak heat. I don’t need to check bulling cows manually anymore.”

He also uses the app’s ‘no heat after calving’ list for routine checks with the vet. “If there’s no visible heat by 50 days in milk, we act fast.”

Early health alerts reduce disease risks

“The health module’s been vital, especially during diet transitions — I drench any flagged cows right away to avoid issues like ketosis.” CowManager provides 24/7 insights into cow health, helping Max catch issues before they escalate and saving on vet costs and time.

Labour-saving technology for the whole team

What made CowManager stand out for Max was its technology. “We looked at different systems, but CowManager doesn’t rely on battery life. It’s cloud-based, regularly updated, and very easy to use.” Installation and re-tagging are simple, and the entire team is connected via the app. “Every morning, staff check the sick and bulling alerts — it’s saved us labour and stress.”

Support you can count on

The service and support have also made a lasting impression. “Any issues, and the helpline is straight on it. They’ve been great. I really recommend CowManager — it’s user-friendly, reliable, and has become an essential tool on our farm.”