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

Living up to its Promises

What began as a trial in September of 2024 turned into a full installation in May of 2025. Heifers pregnant 200 days through freshening and all cows receive the CowManager ear sensor. Ben Dickman shared that this allows the farm team to monitor animals during the critical transition period and through lactation.

When asked why Ben decided to invest in a lifetime monitoring system, he explained, “We wanted to improve the reproduction in the herd as well as the health aspect. Being able to identify cows before visible signs appear has allowed us to make better, more informed decisions. We can focus our attention on sick cows faster, make decisions sooner, and treat or cull accordingly.

The savings they have seen in increased beef cow prices due to healthier cows being culled combined with lower death loss, pays for the CowManager system. “Our death loss was 3.7%, and now with CowManager, it is at 1.9% since we started on the program 10 months ago,” shared Ben.

“We are now saving more than a cow a week! The employees are so excited because they see how early detection really impacts our ability to save these cows. Factored over the year, that is nearly $225,000!” announced Ben. “There is a definite savings realized when CowManager is in my cows’ ears. The system more than pays for itself.”

In addition to improving cow health, the farm has also gained labor efficiency. Cows with health issues are sorted and treated at one time, which allows the farm team to care for identified cows and then move to the next task, instead of treating cows at various times throughout the day.

Ben uses CowManager with the Health, Transition, Nutrition, and Fertility Modules, as seen on his phone here. The Find My Cow Flash feature has identified a cow to breed. Notice the light in the orange tag in her ear.

CowManager Enhancements

Ben appreciates the fact that CowManager integrates well with his DHI+ system and all the relevant cow information is at his fingertips. He was also an early adopter of Find My Cow Flash, noting its benefits for heat detection, conception rates, and pregnancy rates.

Ahead of the Herd Together

The herd has also been supported by SSMC’s CowManager Sales Acceleration Specialist Dan Curtin, CowManager Specialist Jorge Ramirez, Director of Corporate Accounts Brandon Thesing, Account Manager Vince Weber, and independent A.I. Technician Raul Aceves.

Ben concluded, “We made a great decision! CowManager and the SSMC team stand behind their product with amazing customer support. The product aids in management, but the people, support, and training are vital to the overall package.”

Insights into calf health

Technology is helping Hanke Farms take calf care to the next level. CowManager is proving just as valuable for the calves as it has been for the cows. This proactive approach reduces the need for intensive treatments and antibiotics, saving time, money and labor while supporting calf well-being.

When Heidi Taylor introduced CowManager ear sensors to their calves in the summer of 2024, the goal was simple: gain better insight into calf health while saving time in daily management. “Our overall experience with the calves is that we can treat them faster especially in our post-weaning calves. We can catch pneumonia quicker and get those calves treated quicker,” states Heidi.

The graphs share insights on individual animals and groups. Heidi shares how she utilizes the data visualization straight from her phone while walking pens in the barn to look at a calf that needs attention. Continuous monitoring of calves enables more efficient and targeted herd management planning.

Efficient Flash Functionality

For Heidi, one of the most practical advantages of CowManager is how easily it fits into her day-to-day routine. The flashing LED light on the ear sensor makes it easy to identify the right cow, heifer or calf, even in crowded pens. “The new feature of Find my Cow Flash has definitely saved us time, labor, and cost because we can locate the animal that is needed to be found quicker because the light is flashing,” says Heidi. This flash functionality streamlines workflow and enables Hanke’s team to operate more efficiently by walking less pens.

Catching Health Issues Earlier

Installed in February 2022, CowManager has proven its value in the cow herd at Hanke Farms. The system has helped produce healthier, longer-living cows while reducing the need for synchronization.

“We’re spending only half of what we used to on synchronization shots,” said co-owner and herd manager Doug Taylor.

“We have more older cows now because they’re getting pregnant sooner, and we find sickness quicker, which has prolonged the life of our cows. With CowManager we’ve been able to catch ketosis earlier than before, which helps reduce DAs. Over the last couple of years, we’ve cut our DAs in half by being able to catch these cows early enough to get them treated.”

For Hanke Farms, CowManager continues to deliver time savings, herd health improvements, and helps every animal reach its potential. “It definitely is a benefit to our farm, and we are so glad that we expanded CowManager to our youngstock,” said Heidi.

Why Calf Health Is Critical to Herd Performance

This Select Sires Podcast, Lori Nagel, DVM, Performance Specialist at CowManager, discusses how advanced calf health monitoring technology is transforming modern dairy farm management. The episode highlights the importance of protecting youngstock through early disease detection, proactive intervention, and data-driven decision-making.

Driving Profitability Through Precision Dairy Technology

With rising input costs and increasing pressure to maximize lifetime productivity, calf health has never been more critical to overall herd performance. Lori explains how CowManager’s ear sensor technology and real-time behavioral monitoring provide actionable insights into eating, rumination, activity, and resting patterns. By leveraging precision livestock farming tools, producers can detect subtle behavioral changes that often indicate illness, well before visible clinical symptoms appear.

The conversation dives into how continuous cow and calf health monitoring systems support faster treatment decisions, reduce labor demands, improve treatment accuracy, and ultimately increase survival rates and long-term milk production potential. Whether calves are housed individually or in group settings, CowManager’s herd management software enables dairy producers to monitor youngstock remotely and respond quickly to health alerts.

Supporting Youngstock

Listeners will gain insight into how data-driven dairy management, automated health alerts, and proactive youngstock care help protect genetic investments and improve overall farm profitability. A dairy producers looking to strengthen their calf management strategy, enhance animal welfare, and implement innovative technology that drives measurable results should listen now!

Why BRD is Such a Problem

For farmers, BRD isn’t just an animal health issue; it’s an economic one. Calves that battle pneumonia often struggle to catch up in growth, which means they won’t perform as well later in life. This is why bovine respiratory disease prevention matters so much.

Cows have a relatively limited lung capacity in proportion to their body weight. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain good lung health throughout their life. Issues like BRD translate into lower milk yields, higher veterinarian bills and in some cases, calf mortality.

How Cow Monitoring Technology Helps

Relying on visual checks for BRD can be a tricky business. Coughing, nasal discharge, or falling behind compared to the rest of the herd can be signs of BRD. But calves and cows, prey animals by nature, are experts at hiding weaknesses. This makes it harder to spot bovine respiratory disease symptoms.

That’s where cow monitoring technology makes a real difference. By keeping track of activity and behavior around the clock, these systems can identify early warning signs that would otherwise be missed.

For example, opting for an ultrasound at an early state can detect budding pneumonia. Something that sometimes occurs when calves and cows receive health alerts and nothing comes out of the clinical examination.

Monitor Herd Health with CowManager

A great example of a BRD prevention tool is CowManager’s Youngstock Monitor, designed specifically to track calf health. The system collects detailed data on ear temperature, eating and rumination time, behavior and activity and flags anything unusual. When a calf shows changes that could indicate the bovine respiratory disease complex, the system alerts the farmer early, giving time to act before the disease becomes severe.

This approach supports earlier bovine respiratory disease treatment, which improves recovery rates, reduces antibiotic use, and ultimately lowers mortality. Healthier calves grow into healthier, more productive cows – and that protects your bottom line.

The CowManager system enables farmers to keep an eye on their herd’s entire life cycle, monitoring them from calf to cow with just one ear sensor. Comparing groups, diving into the data and making sure their herd gets everything they need.

When calves become cows, CowManager’s Health Module continues to track their health, ensuring a lifetime of monitoring.

Keeping BRD from Being Damaging

Monitoring is powerful, but it works best alongside strong everyday management. Good bovine respiratory disease prevention practices include ensuring calves get enough colostrum, reducing stress during weaning and transport, maintaining proper ventilation, keep group changes at a minimum and manage them well, and following vaccination programs.

When these are combined with technology like CowManager’s Health monitor, it’s the best defense against BRD.

Protecting calves from bovine respiratory disease isn’t just better for animal welfare – it’s better for your business.

Detecting Calf Pneumonia Before Symptoms Appear

In addition to our established modules for cows, CowManager introduced the Youngstock Monitor for calves last year. The program enables dairy farmers to improve their calf management. At the Benninghoff Milchenergie farm, herd manager Anna Schaate and her calf team have long been using CowManager for cows and young cattle over ten months, and it now also helps them to successfully detect respiratory disease in calves at an early stage.

Calf health is an important aspect of dairy farming because only healthy calves become productive dairy cows. Farmers and veterinarians are always looking for tools to help them rear healthier calves and reduce the reliance on antibiotics. Pneumonia, in particular, has long been a major challenge in calf rearing. It poses a risk of permanent damage to the lungs and can later on lead to reduced performance as a dairy cow. In practice, the problem is that the infection is often not noticed initially and only severe cases with clear symptoms are clinically apparent. CowManager’s Youngstock Monitor is a valuable tool for detecting sick calves at an early stage. The major advantage of this system is that it flags calves with a health warning and provides an alert even before the animals start showing visible signs of illness.

“I tend to rely on figures, data, and facts, and that’s why I like working with CowManager’s health data for calves.”

Early detection of changes in activity with CowManager

And that’s precisely why herd manager Anna Schaate from Benninghoff Milchenergie in Bevern decided to use CowManager for calves too. “I tend to rely on figures, data, and facts, and that’s why I like working with CowManager’s health data for calves,” she explains, “because once calves stop drinking, you’ve got a major problem on your hands.” At first she thought that she wouldn’t see much difference in activity because the young calves don’t move around that much. “But I came to realize how useful CowManager is when it comes to the early detection of calf pneumonia.” The health warning allows her to recognize early in the day which calves are deviating from the group average in terms of activity and drinking. She then considers information on group changes, rehousing, weaning, and dehorning as this may also influence the data. If there are no such factors to consider, Anna Schaate then examines the calves in question with an ultrasound scan of the lungs.

“We’ve found that CowManager shows us the animals that have pneumonia two days earlier than we would have recognized their labored breathing and general poor health. Since we started consistently monitoring the calves using a combination of CowManager and LungScan, we’ve been able to treat the pneumonia before the symptoms become apparent”

Early stages of respiratory disease are detected in good time

The CowManager health lists are checked three times a day. Anna Schaate identifies calves with deviations and then examines them with her colleagues from the calf team. Depending on the diagnosis, the calves are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers. “We’ve found that CowManager shows us the animals that have pneumonia two days earlier than we would have recognized their labored breathing and general poor health,” she reports. “Since we started consistently monitoring the calves using a combination of CowManager and LungScan, we’ve been able to treat the pneumonia before the symptoms become apparent,” adds the herd manager. “I’m not a fan of the blanket use of antibiotics, so we only really treat calves when it is absolutely necessary,” she says, explaining another advantage of this approach.

Working with a veterinarian on prevention

The herd’s veterinarian, Hanna Strodthoff-Schneider, confirms the benefits of using activity monitoring for the early detection of disease: “With pneumonia in particular, it allows us to identify the affected calves at a very early stage of the disease – at a time when lung tissue is showing minimal change on the ultrasound.” The veterinarian goes on to explain that as lung tissue cannot regenerate, any loss of functional tissue results in a permanent decline in lung function. Early diagnosis using an activity monitoring system can therefore help to minimize structural changes in the lungs. “It is likely that this will also have a positive effect on lactation performance later on,” says Hanna Strodthoff-Schneider. Despite these undisputed benefits, she underlines that every dairy farm should be aiming to minimize cases of pneumonia from the outset with appropriate feeding practices as well as optimal housing and environmental conditions.

“If this helps us to rear more high-quality heifers that are well-prepared for the start of lactation, then it will have been worth it!”

Consistent hygiene management, health monitoring, and treatment

Herd manager Anna Schaate agrees. “Consistent compliance with hygiene measures and constant monitoring of housing conditions, for example with adequate ventilation, is extremely important in the prevention of calf disease. Damp conditions and draughts must be avoided,” she adds. “We make sure to check the ventilation in all barns on a regular basis and install new ventilation tubes when necessary. We also shave three strips on the backs of older calves so that they can dry off more quickly.” She is confident that this combination of hygiene management, health monitoring, and early treatment has considerably improved the health of the calves on the farm. Lung scans take five to ten minutes per calf, but she considers it worth the time as cases of acute and chronic respiratory disease have decreased significantly. The impact on staff satisfaction and motivation is also noticeable as working with healthy animals is much more enjoyable than trying to alleviate the pain of sick animals. “If this helps us to rear more high-quality heifers that are well-prepared for the start of lactation, then it will have been worth it!” she says.

Learn more about Benninghof Milchenergie and their experiences with CowManager. 

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.

High-Quality Forage

Forage quality is the backbone of every heifer diet. Not all forage delivers the same results — and when it comes to raising heifers, quality matters just as much as quantity.

High-quality forage supports optimal growth and body condition without overfeeding grain. The right balance of protein and minerals is crucial: too much grain can over-condition heifers, while low-quality forage may slow growth.
Protein plays an important role in the overall growth of heifers, as it provides the amino acids needed for tissue and muscle development.

Skeletal growth – bone formation and strength – is important and depends mainly on the availability and balance of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as vitamin D and adequate energy supply.

The two go hand in hand: Bones also contain protein structures, collagen matrix, that minerals bind to. An excess of protein alone will not improve bone growth.

Feed Efficiency

Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility (NDFD) is an important indicator of how much energy a heifer can actually extract from her feed. Higher digestibility means better feed efficiency – something that shouldn’t be underestimated. Higher NDFD means the heifer can extract more energy from the same amount of feed, leading to better feed efficiency and weight gain.

Changes in feed quality or type can easily affect growth rates. That’s why testing forage regularly and adjusting rations with your nutritionist is essential. With CowManager’s Transition & Nutrition Monitor, you can track the effect of ration changes per cow as well as per group.

And with the free MultiView functionality you and your advisors can easily share and monitor real-time data on feed and ration changes – ensuring every heifer stays on track.

Feed Space per Cow

Feed space is often underestimated, yet it plays a major role in growth and future milk production. Overcrowding causes stress, limits feed intake, and leads to uneven growth within groups — especially for subordinate heifers.

Aim for 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm) of bunk space per heifer. This ensures that every animal has equal access to feed, particularly in group housing systems. Providing adequate space reduces injuries, stress, and the risk of disease transmission. A calmer pen leads to healthier heifers, steady growth, and more efficient management.

The Transition & Nutrition Monitor even tracks a cow’s stress level; monitoring whether a cow is feeling safe and secure or is experiencing stress factors that may affect her health, causing her to become less active – in which case you’ll receive an alert. Too much stress also leads to cortisol release, which is immune suppressive.

Dairy Heifer Feed Requirements

When it comes to dairy heifer nutrition, it’s not just about intake — it’s about outcomes. One of the most critical milestones in heifer development is reaching the right breeding weight.

Heifers should reach 55–60% of their mature body weight by 13–15 months of age, allowing them to calve between 22 and 24 months. Hitting this target keeps rearing costs under control and maximizes lifetime milk yield.

Underweight heifers often calve later, increasing costs and reducing production potential. Overweight heifers, on the other hand, are at higher risk for calving and metabolic problems. The right balance is key to achieving strong, productive cows ready for the next stage of their life.

Building a Strong Foundation

When you combine forage quality, feed space, and proper breeding weight, the bigger picture becomes clear — these are the building blocks of your future herd.

Every decision in heifer management has a ripple effect. The heifers you raise today are tomorrow’s high-performing dairy cows. With CowManager’s Transition & Nutrition Monitor and MultiView functionality, you gain the insights to make smart, fact-based feeding and growth decisions.

Set your herd up for long-term success. Download the Calf Guide and stay ahead of the herd together.

Why Colostrum for Calves Is Essential

Calves are born without antibodies, making them highly vulnerable to infections. Cow colostrum, packed with immunoglobulins (IgG), provides the essential antibodies that act as a first line of defense for the newborn. This colostrum helps protect the calf from disease while its own immune system develops.

The first 12 hours after birth are critical for antibody absorption, as the calf’s gut is still open to absorb these antibodies directly into the bloodstream. After this window, absorption decreases significantly and closes completely within 24 hours. Timely, adequate feeding of high-quality colostrum is crucial for giving the calf the best start in life, as literature indicates that calves receiving proper colostrum develop a better-functioning gastrointestinal tract.

A Healthy Cow produces Better Colostrum for her Calves

The quality of colostrum for calves is directly linked to the health of the mother cow. A healthy, stress-free cow is more likely to produce high-quality colostrum, which is vital for the calf’s immunity and growth.

While CowManager doesn’t monitor colostrum quality directly, it does help identify when issues arise during a cow’s dry period. Together with advisors, you can investigate potential causes, such as social housing, to ensure cows produce the best colostrum possible.

CowManager’s monitoring system provides valuable insights during critical stages such as the transition phase. Through alerts for heat stress, illness, or transition challenges, you can take early action to prevent these factors from affecting colostrum production.

For example:

• Transition period challenges, such as disease or inadequate nutrition, can lower antibody content.
• Heat stress can decrease colostrum quality.

By addressing these issues early, you help ensure your cows stay healthy and your calves receive the high-quality colostrum they need for a strong start.

By using CowManager to monitor and optimize cow health, and by acting on the alerts to improve your management, you indirectly help ensure that calves receive the best possible colostrum to start their lives strong.

Set Your Calves Up for Success

Colostrum management is truly the first step toward raising healthy, productive dairy cows. Your efforts during those first hours make all the difference.

The Bottom Line: Dry Cow Health Equals Better Colostrum for Calves

Colostrum for calves is a critical part of their early development and long-term productivity. To give your calves the best possible start, it’s essential to ensure that cows produce the highest quality colostrum, and that begins with monitoring and supporting their health.

By using CowManager to track cow health, you can make informed decisions and intervene early when needed, ensuring your cows are in top condition to produce the best colostrum for their calves.

Want to optimize your calf health and give your future dairy cows the best start?