Collars keep track

Monitoring a dairy herd is a 24-hour job but an agri-tech company is automating critical functions to ease the pressure, reduce labour and give back more time to farmers.

Waikato Milking Systems introduced its CowTRAQ™ Collars and its TracHQ™ software to the Australian market in May 2021, in partnership with dairy management technology company Nedap.

CowTRAQ™ Collars identify each cow in a herd and keep track of their signs of heat, position, eating, rumination, standing, lying, walking and inactive behavior 24/7.

The collars provide a precise and complete picture about the fertility, health, well-being and nutritional status of each cow in each herd.

Waikato Milking Systems regional manager for Australia, Rob Spencer, said the functionality of the collars offered farmers a chance to improve in several areas.

“We’re talking about a herd’s reproduction results, increased labor efficiency as well as farm management to get a more productive and sustainable herd.