One Thing Leads to Another with Activity Monitoring

By CentralStar.

Benthem Brothers Dairy in McBain, Michigan was an early adopter of electronic activity monitoring, installing Select Detect™ nearly 10 years ago. Their decision was fueled by lack of time, too many synchronization injections and results that did not meet their goals. Skeptics laughed, saying it was a fad and wouldn’t work. A decade later Jason Benthem and his team are the ones smiling.

In 2009, Benthem Brothers herd already enjoyed a 28,000 pound rolling herd average (RHA) with a 150,000 somatic cell count (SCC) on three-times-a-day milking. These are numbers most would and should be proud of, but reproduction on the farm was another story. Stuck at a 20 percent pregnancy rate, 140 days open and a 14-month calving interval, Jason knew they could do better.

Fast forward to 2019. Benthem Brothers herd averages 70,000 SCC and over 31,000 pounds of milk. Reproduction has skyrocketed to a 32 percent pregnancy rate, while days open has decreased to 109, and calving interval to 12.8 months.

Translating the impact those changes can have to the bottom line doesn’t have to be difficult, in fact we think you’ll enjoy it. Grab a pen and follow along by writing down your numbers as shown in the list.

Reduced Semen Costs

Moving pregnancy rate from 20 to 32 percent was simple. Breeding more, and specifically cows at the right time, leads to more pregnant cows and improved pregnancy rates. Improving pregnancy rate has major benefits regarding production and culling opportunities, but also saves on semen cost at about 4 cents/head/day. To figure this out, multiply your herd size by 1.5 and add a zero to the result, that’s how much you could save a year. Go ahead, write it down. Since adopting this technology, the estimated savings on semen cost alone has paid for two-thirds of the investment to date.

More Calves

More calves to sell can mean more revenue for your operation. While the amount of revenue is largely influenced by market conditions and your breeding strategy, having another revenue stream can be a big help. Do you know how many more calves you have every year when you shave 1.2 months off your calving interval like Benthem Brothers did? Multiply your herd size by 8 percent. At reported average prices as high as $125 for beef cross calves your return could be about 3 cents/head/ day. Do your own math. Add a zero to your herd size to find what your annual revenue increase could be.

It’d be wrong if we said all of this is the result of an electronic activity monitoring system. But you would be wrong if you didn’t agree that it played a significant role. With activity monitoring systems, one thing leads to another. What started as small improvements at Benthem Brothers in conception and heat detection quickly blossomed into impacting every facet of the dairy. Everything else got easier.

Everything Else

Reducing the herds SCC from a 150,000 to 70,000 is the result of excellent management, early actionable health alerts, smart culling decisions and great cow health. In 2014 Benthem Brothers original activity monitoring system was reaching the end of its lifespan. A decision had to be made to invest again or go back to how it used to be. Going back was not an option. Fortunately, there was new technology available that could also help with herd health.

Jason knew they didn’t want to change batteries or collars. Fortunately, heat detection in the form of an ear tag was available in CowManager, eliminating those hassles. But wait, there’s more. That little ear tag also monitors cow health.

Getting cows bred on time, plus finding and treating cows sooner equals better transition. Better transition along with good bedding and good nutrition equates to lots of high-quality milk. All things you know, but what’s the real math?

Milk Quality

Improved milk quality can pay significant dividends in the form of quality bonuses. What difference would 20 cents/cwt make at the end of the year? Figure it out by dividing your herd size in half and add two zeros. That is the dollar amount accessing more quality bonuses could have for your dairy. Where you’re starting from will impact what opportunity you have, but it could be as high as 14 cents/head/day. Go ahead, do the math.

Production

The increase in milk, fat and protein starts with good reproduction, healthy cows and good nutrition. On this dairy it totaled 3,300 more pounds of milk, 72 pounds more fat and 132 pounds more protein. How much could that have helped this past year? Do your own math. Divide your herd size in half and add three zeros. Significant increases in pounds of milk and components can lead to revenue increases of $1.36/head/day.

If you’ve played along you should have some dollar figures scribbled in the column to the left. Add them up and take a minute to consider how that additional revenue might have changed things for your dairy this past year.

Admittedly the math we used was unconventional, but it was intentional. Do the math your own way and we think you’ll find that in the end we arrive at the same place, which is that electronic activity monitoring is here to stay and can have a significant impact to your bottom line.

Whether we are talking about a math exercise like this or the success of your operation, the key is deciding to start, and to be willing to try something different.

Nearly ten years ago, Jason took those steps by leveraging new technology and in doing so turned long time challenges for their dairy into a distant memory. It’s an inspiring story, what will yours be? Contact us if you would like to explore this idea further.