Dennis Haß

Dennis Haß runs the dairy farm Milch und Mehr GbR in Schleswig-Holstein together with his brother and father. Since 2022, they have been using smaXtec for their 280 cows – a step that has brought significant changes: “We now know when a cow is getting sick and no longer have to wait until it’s visibly noticeable.”

The family initially searched for a system to improve heat detection. Why did they choose smaXtec? “I was impressed by the idea of getting data directly from inside the cow – without external environmental factors like sunlight affecting ear tags or neck sensors,” says Dennis Haß.

“I’ve already been able to prevent over 50% of mastitis cases.”

“We’ve always struggled with mastitis. I wanted to detect early signs of udder infections to intervene faster with milder treatments,” explains Dennis Haß. The key parameter for this is measuring the inner body temperature.

“Often, you can’t even tell by looking at the cow – there are no flakes in the milk, and she seems to be producing fully. Without the temperature alert, I’d never suspect the animal might be sick. Only the CMT confirms that the cow indeed has mastitis and an elevated somatic cell count,” he explains. Thanks to the early alerts, the farmer can act quickly: “I use homeopathic remedies before antibiotics become necessary. This way, I’ve been able to prevent over 50% of mastitis cases before they fully develop.”

Reproduction: “We rely entirely on the system.”

The smaXtec traffic light system indicates the optimal insemination time, allowing Dennis Haß to inseminate flexibly in the morning, midday, or evening. This eliminates the need for labour-intensive heat detection, which used to require up to five checks a day: “We rely entirely on the system. We don’t measure temperatures manually or observe the animals anymore. Instead, we simply review the lists on the PC for ten minutes each morning.”

The system also allows Dennis Haß to extend the calving interval without missing the heat cycle. “The later I inseminate a cow, the longer she remains in her peak production phase, producing more milk,” Haß explains. This helps him make milk production more efficient while ensuring the cows’ welfare. Thanks to smaXtec, he has been able to increase herd milk production by approximately 900 litres over the past two years.

Calvings under control: safe & reliable

For Dennis Haß, the system is especially indispensable around calving. “I don’t want to handle calving without smaXtec anymore. I know exactly when a cow is about to calve and can see if she has hypothermia after birth – then I need to act immediately,” the farmer explains. “In the past, we used to give every third cow a prophylactic infusion after calving. Today, I can say: She doesn’t have cold ears, no hypothermia, she’s doing fine – so I just leave her alone.”

A herd without smaXtec? Unimaginable!

In his daily work, Dennis Haß particularly values the the smaXtec support team: “Whenever I need help, someone is always available quickly. It works really well! For specific problems, I get useful tips on how to interpret the graphs and identify health issues early.”

This reliable assistance has further strengthened his confidence in the system. “I would recommend smaXtec anytime – and I already have. Without the system, I wouldn’t know how to handle certain challenges. I simply can’t imagine managing my herd without smaXtec anymore.”