Transition makes or breaks reproduction
By September, most herds are already calved and are heading towards mating. The window to influence pre-calving minerals has passed, and decisions made in the transition period are only just becoming obvious.
From collars to boluses, apps and dashboards, farmers are promised real-time insights on rumination, activity and heat detection. All of this is useful, but data alone doesn't increase farm performance. We are now pairing this data with solid science to help farmers make more targeted mineral supplementation decisions.
Connecting the dots
Farmers can now monitor almost everything with various technologies. Wearables track eating minutes, rumination and movement. Boluses add temperature, water intake, and monitor rumen pH. On top of this, milk meters can now add fat and protein, total volume and conductivity per cow. While individual data can hint at cow health problems, we get a much fuller picture when we link these data sources together, giving us insights into group trends.
Let's say milk fat is dropping. We might normally add fibre for a quick fix. However, if rumination and eating minutes are also decreasing, the issue may be around energy intake or mineral imbalance. By bringing together our cow sensor data and using it alongside our milk data, we can help identify the cause - not just the symptoms. This saves us time, head scratching, and wasted feed inputs. A broader view helps us see if cows are hitting the milestones that matter: quick recovery post-calving, strong peak milk, and consistent cycling heading into mating. Tech can flag issues in real time, and nutrition often gives us the levers to correct them.
Where farmers can get led astray
Many farmers have invested in collars or boluses but have seen less increase than they had hoped, and the gap is often in the interpretation of complementing milk and other farm data. For instance, wearables may show improved rumination, but if milk production and composition are not tracked alongside this, the cow can quickly fall out of balance, costing cow/farm performance.
I always advise farmers to seek independent advice on how well a certain technology may or may not fit their system, as relying on the neighbour's opinion can be risky and lead to disappointment.
It's like choosing a golf driver. Just because your mate can hit it long and straight doesn't mean it will hit straight in your hands. Is the tech simple and easy to use? Does it provide solutions for the most pressing issues on your farm? Try before you buy and choose a system that makes sense to you.
Read More:
- Transition makes or breaks reproduction
- Reproduction starts in the liver
- Still feeding minerals like its 1991?
Minerals and metabolism still matter
As nice as it would be, no device can make up for a cow being short on minerals. The rumen and liver are the key engines driving performance, with both relying on the right balance of trace and macro minerals.
There is not mineral to "see you right". Trace elements like copper, selenium and zinc affect enzyme activity, immune strength and hormone function. Macro minerals like magnesium, calcium and sodium influence energy balance, muscle function and feed metabolism.
It's a delicate balance, and when it's off, the cows will alert you quickly - heat expression weakens, conception rates slip, fat-to-protein ratios drift. Wearables used correctly will help you spot these warning signs, and alongside good interpretation, will help you balance your herd's feed and mineral nutrition.
When cows are well supported nutritionally, technology is better at flagging the smaller issues, as the larger ones have already been solved.
Advice turns data into action
With so much technology on hand these days, it can feel like we’re slaves to notifications. What farmers really need are clear steps to take today, tomorrow, next week and next month. That’s where expert advice really pays off. A stream of numbers is only useful if you’re able to read it in the context of cow health, feed supply and the farm budget. With good advice, we can cut down on noise, focus our efforts, and build more profitable and resilient farm businesses.
A simple plan
Write down your five biggest pain points on farm, e.g. time, feed waste, weak heats, slow recovery or staff issues.
Map which tools speak to those problems. Avoid anything that adds data without solving a real issue.
Connect nutrition and tech. Always review milk and farm data alongside rumination and activity when making decisions.
Get advice on setting alert thresholds that match your farm system.
Review results monthly and reset. Keep what pays and discard what doesn’t.
Key Takeaways
Data is powerful when linked with sound feed and mineral nutrition.
Cow sensor tech can show us what is happening in the cow, but it’s important to link this with daily milk and farm data to validate the impact of changes made. With technology, we now have the potential to have amazing visibility of our cows’ performance, health, and efficiency.
However, choosing the right technology that works for you, your team, and your farm system is critical to maximising the benefit it can provide.
Chris Balemi is Agvance Nutrition founder and managing director.
