Nedap has introduced a new suite of technological advancements in dairy management with the release of the SmartSort sort gate and SmartTag Ear. As dairies evolve, their data needs grow, and Nedap, a prominent figure in automated dairy herd management, is extending its offerings to support these demands.
Maarten Idink, managing director of Nedap Livestock Management, states, “We’re launching the SmartSort sort gate, a highly requested modern and simplified twist on sort gate technology. We are also adding to our monitoring sensor lineup with the SmartTag Ear, a sleek new ear tag for data collection on dairy animals.” These innovations are designed to enhance efficiency in labour and herd management while delivering precise and dependable data that benefit both livestock and farmers.
Efficient health checks
The SmartSort sort gate is built with a single recognition point that ensures high accuracy and minimal moving parts, which helps decrease stress in cows. The system is designed to allow users to determine which cows need to be separated and directed to specific areas, making it pivotal for health checks and breeding protocols. At Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, approximately 4,000 cows move through the SmartSort gate per shift, achieving nearly flawless compliance.
"Having the sort gate helps us work with the cows we need without disrupting the rest of the herd," comments Chris Szydel, Herd Manager at Pagel’s Ponderosa. A similar sentiment is echoed by Dave Styer, co-owner of Alfalawn Farm in Menomonie, Wisconsin, who adds, "With the SmartSort system, we've been able to reach much higher accuracy than with our previous system. It doesn’t stop the cows like our previous sort gate, so our throughput is very good."
Data transmission reliability
Notably, the ear tag is designed to be lightweight and maintains data storage capabilities for up to 24 hours
The SmartTag Ear offers comprehensive insights related to cow activity, reproduction, rumination, and feeding time. Notably, the ear tag is designed to be lightweight and maintains data storage capabilities for up to 24 hours, facilitating transfer between animals. Sutton Rooks, owner of Milking R Dairy in Okeechobee, Florida, appreciates the ease of using ear tags over previous systems, emphasizing their role in highlighting cows that require attention.
Garrett Rooks of Milking R Dairy believes in the proactive capabilities of the Nedap tag system, stating, "Our goal moving forward with the Nedap tag system is addressing issues before they become a bigger problem. We want to keep cows in our herd as long as we can." These innovations are part of Nedap’s broader data insights suite, which integrates information from various farm points, enhancing decision-making in herd management.
Herd management advances
The interconnected insights suite from Nedap empowers users to efficiently capture data via tags, sort and direct cows, locate individual cows, and monitor parlour performance, aiding in the refinement of health, reproductive, and nutrition protocols.
“Our technology is trusted to help dairies around the world better manage their herds,” declares Idink, reaffirming Nedap’s commitment to advancing dairy farm management.
The technology pioneer launches new sort gate and ear tag. The SmartSort sort gate and SmartTag Ear are the next evolution in Nedap’s dairy data ecosystem to meet farmers’ needs.
As dairies progress, so do their data and technology needs. Similarly, the dairy insights suite from Nedap, a global pioneer in automated dairy herd monitoring and management technology, is also advancing in depth and breadth.
Dairy data ecosystem
“We’re launching the SmartSort sort gate, a highly requested modern and simplified twist on sort gate technology. We are also adding to our monitoring sensor line-up with the SmartTag Ear, a sleek new ear tag for data collection on dairy animals,” says Maarten Idink, managing director of Nedap Livestock Management.
“These additions to our dairy insights suite mean greater labour and herd efficiencies on-farm. They also underscore our commitment to the development of reliable, accurate data to benefit cows and people,” he adds.
Efficient health checks
The SmartSort sort gate features one recognition point with an unmatched degree of accuracy, few moving parts to reduce cow stress, low maintenance and high-capacity operation. Based on specific goals, users can decide which cows need to be separated or routed and the location to where they need to be sent.
At Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, Kewaunee, Wisconsin, about 4,000 cows pass through the SmartSort gate per shift. Thanks to this technology, the farm now sorts cows with nearly perfect compliance, which is essential for efficient health checks and breeding protocols.
High-capacity operation
“Having the sort gate helps us work with the cows we need without disrupting the rest of the herd. It just streamlines the whole system,” says Pagel’s Ponderosa Herd Manager Chris Szydel. “The rest of the herd can go back to their pens, eat, drink, walk around, lie down and be a cow. The system does a great job of identifying cows that need attention on a day-to-day basis.”
“If you’re not looking at new technology and new ways of keeping up with the industry, pretty soon you’re behind,” says Dave Styer, co-owner of Alfalawn Farm, Menomonie, Wisconsin. “With the SmartSort system, we’ve been able to reach much higher accuracy than with our previous system. One of the unique things about this system is that it’s a continuous flow sort gate. It doesn’t stop the cows like our previous sort gate, so our throughput is very good. We’re very happy with the SmartSort sort gate and supporting technology.”
Data transmission reliability
The SmartTag Ear captures insights on activity, reproduction, rumination and eating time. Its lightweight, streamlined design includes data storage for 24 hours and is removable for use on other animals. It is built on long-lasting, proven infrastructure used for other Nedap sensors to ensure data transmission reliability.
“To me, the ear tag is just easier to manage than the collars or the pedometers we used to have,” says Sutton Rooks, owner of Milking R Dairy, Okeechobee, Florida. “It helps bring those cows to the forefront that need attention and get them back on track. We’re using everything in our toolbox we possibly can to keep our cows happy and healthy.”
Actionable information ecosystem hub
Adds Garrett Rooks, the fourth generation of Milking R Dairy, “Our goal moving forward with the Nedap tag system is addressing issues before they become a bigger problem. We want to keep cows in our herd as long as we can. Longevity pays, reproduction pays and everything ties together to be a profitable farm.”
These new tools are the latest evolution of Nedap’s data insights suite available to dairy farmers. This interconnected data grid means dairies can track, manage and act on information generated at multiple points around the farm – from cow activity to rumination data to milk production and much more. With the Nedap Now platform at the center of its actionable information ecosystem hub, data flows from hardware into data sensors that flow into the cloud for safekeeping and analysis.
Herd management advances
The integrated insights suite enables users to accurately and efficiently:
- Capture data using ear tags or neck tags
- Sort cows and route them where they need to be
- Locate individual cows for further actions
- Monitor parlour performance with the SmartFlow milk meter
- Use actionable data to empower employees
- Hone health, reproductive and nutrition protocols
“Our technology is trusted to help dairies around the world better manage their herds,” says Idink. “We deeply value that trust and persistently seek ways to assist farmers and improve life on the farm. Our new sort gate and ear tag are our latest innovations to meet these goals.”
“As dairies’ information needs grow and change, we’re leading the way with greater insights and herd management advances they can depend on,” he concludes.
