SenseHub® Dairy milk sensors for Herringbone sheds

The Herringbone system uses SenseHub Dairy photoelectric sensors placed above a purpose-built platform entrance chute. If a cow changes position after they enter the chute, SenseHub Dairy software enables the milker to reorder or rematch the cow to the correct bail.

SenseHub Dairy MilkPlus milk sensors allow farmers to monitor yield, protein, fat, lactose, blood, and conductivity for each cow. The SCC milk sensors automatically perform a Rapid Mastitis Test (RMT) providing results within two minutes of cupping.

“SenseHub Dairy MilkPlus and SCC in-line milk sensors give farmers data for every milking, so they know their best and worst performers throughout the entire season for better breeding, feeding, and culling decisions. It also means they can make faster, more informed bulk milk protection, udder health, and dry-off decisions,” says Calvert.

The system can also use a traffic light indicator based on the SCC level by showing green for no issues (low SCC), orange for may need attention, and red for an issue (very high SCC).

Chloe Jones, Fonterra Regional Farm Operations Manager – Upper North Island, says the trial at Fonterra’s Te Rapa dairy farm helped them identify and improve mastitis treatment in the 180-cow herd and reduce their mastitis cases.

The farm milks 180 cows over 70 hectares, producing an average of 82,000kg/MS per season.

“As the cows are milking the team can look up and get a visual read on any cow needing attention through the light system. If they look up and see an orange light it’s an indication that cow might have a bit of an infection coming on and it means we can take immediate preventative measures to sooth inflammation, aid natural healing or giving her extra care,” says Chloe.

“If it’s red this allows the team to identify the cow on the spot that has high SCC that day and make a decision for treatment or removal of the animal from the vat. As we have a big focus on milk quality and aim for 100% Te Tihi within Co-Operative difference, this system is helping us to achieve our goals,” says Chloe.

Using the system after calving, the farm had a 55% reduction in clinical cases (5 clinical cases for this season) compared to last season and was able to monitor and proactively manage 15 cows throughout the season without needing to treat them or strip the herd once.

“Thanks to the sensitivity of the sensors and early detection of any change in bulk SCC, we were able to take our observations to the next level assisting the team in keeping our SCC low and below the 150,000 thresholds target we have for the farm throughout the season,” says Alge du Plessis Assistant Farm Manager

By identifying potential issues early on, farmers can maintain herd health, maximise their milk production, milk quality and income.

“This is the first time Herringbone farmers have been able to access this level of daily milk monitoring, without disrupting their milking routine. It enables them to proactively manage individual cow health and production” says Calvert. “SenseHub Dairy milk sensors do all the hard work, giving cows their ‘voice’, and helping farmers easily identify who is thriving or in need of attention every time they are milked, throughout the entire lactation.”

Milk sensors technology is really coming into its own. Milk processors like Fonterra, Tatua and Synlait, offer bonus payments for farmers who produce milk that meet key performance targets for excellent milk quality, which includes low SCC.