Early Calf Nutrition Linked To Better Growth And Future Milk Production
Giving calves the best possible start to life has been shown to boost growth and resilience.
A completely redesigned user interface now displays key information in a clearer and more accessible manner.
At the heart of the SmaXtec system is the ability to monitor animal health, including early disease detection, alongside reproduction issues such as heat identification, optimal insemination windows, calving notifications-on average 15 hours before the eventalongside abortion detection and fertility issues.
Centred around a onetime administered, lifetime bolus, the device monitors body temperature and drinking behaviour, looking at both frequency and intake volumes. Other key indicators monitored include rumination, via reticulum contractions, general movement activity and optional reticulum PH monitoring.
Collected data is passed seamlessly to a Base Station, where an integral climate sensor provides additional information on ambient temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. The combined data stream is moved to The Cloud, to be analysed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) alongside long-standing , proven and evolving algorithms.
Recognising every dairy farm is unique, SmaXtec has recently updated its health management offering to deliver even more personalised, intuitive, and efficient notifications.
The latest software known as smaXtec Web fits seamlessly into daily dairy operations, with an AI-powered digital assistant.
The system helps farmers keep an eye on their animals and simplifies everyday tasks on the pasture, with automatic reports, practical lists, and clear actions and recommendations.
A completely redesigned user interface now displays key information in a clearer and more accessible manner, with easier to interpret graphs making navigation more straightforward and significantly improved usability. A quick glance at the dashboard offers new updates, such as: Which cows are due for hoof trimming? Which freshly calved animals need special attention, and potential mastitis cases are also automatically listed. Farmers not only see which animals are affected but also receive concrete action recommendations from the AI-powered digital assistant, such as performing a CMT test.
Joshua Irving has been named the 2026 Ormond Nurseries North Canterbury Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Vets say they support the responsible use of virtual fencing and virtual herding technology for cattle and wants to work with farmers, manufacturers and government to help shape standards for future use backed by ongoing research to strengthen animal welfare outcomes.
National and world records tumbled as top Kiwi axeman claimed two Stihl Timbersports world titles at the same event in Budapest, Hungary over the first weekend in June.
A safety push across New Zealand has revealed significant gaps in hazardous substances management, farm vehicles, tractors, quad bikes and side-by-sides.
New Zealand farmers have earned a global edge by consistently yet cautiously taking advantage of emerging agri-technology.
New season data from LIC shows a strong reproductive performance for the 2025-26 season, with a lift in key metrics compared to last season.