Agraset Agrargenossenschaft eG

In Saxony, Germany, Agraset Agrargenossenschaft eG operates a modern dairy facility with 950 cows and young stock across 4,700 hectares. At the heart of the operation is an automatic milking carousel that milks around 200 cows per hour. The result is an impressive average of 3,120 gallons of milk sold per cow in the last lactation. Since mid-2023, the farm has also relied on the smaXtec system, which has not only streamlined workflows and reduced costs but also optimized heat detection and unlocked new feeding potential.

Less Stress, More Efficiency in the Barn

“Since we started using smaXtec, we work more calmly and with greater peace of mind, because we know we will quickly find any sick cows,” says managing director Thomas Böser, who runs the operation together with herd manager Dana Berensmann. She adds: “Since we’ve been using smaXtec, our cows are doing better, our workers are doing better. We are less stressed, we save a tremendous amount of costs, and a lot of the monitoring work is taken off our shoulders. smaXtec provides such comprehensive monitoring, it really covers everything.”

Thomas Böser explains how the system shapes his daily routine: “I first look at the climate data. With the smaXtec climate sensor, I can immediately see if the animals have experienced environmental stress. With that knowledge, I then review the reported health cases. If everything looks fine, I will check if any cows show rumination issues, which usually points to a feeding problem.”

Expert Guidance: Small Changes, Big Results

Here the smaXtec specialists play a key role, providing valuable expertise and practical solutions. “We only made small adjustments, and things immediately improved,” Thomas Böser recalls. “You could instantly see the change in rumination behavior. It was striking, even for me after 40 years of experience, that such small ration changes could affect the rumen so quickly.”

Smarter Heat Detection and Improved Fertility

“In such a large facility, you can’t constantly walk through and spot cows in heat. With smaXtec, you don’t need to anymore,” explains Dana Berensmann. Thomas Böser agrees: “For herd managers, it’s important to be certain about heats and also to identify cows that may have been pregnant but had an abortion, so they can be checked by the veterinarian right away.”

Dana Berensmann emphasizes the reliability of the system: “Because smaXtec updates throughout the day, you easily find the cows in heat. You don’t miss them, and you don’t inseminate too late. It’s easy to identify cows that return to heat, and by the time the veterinarian pregnancy checks them, you have fewer open cows. That also reduces costs.” The result is significantly improved fertility and overall herd profitability.

Reliable Calving Alerts, Even for Twins

Another major advantage is the system’s precise calving alerts. “You can rely 100% on the calving alert. If the alert comes, the cow will have calved by the next day at the latest,” says Dana Berensmann. Thomas Böser points out that this feature is especially valuable for twin births: “We don’t always know if a cow is carrying twins. Twin pregnancies are shorter, and if these cows aren’t moved to the pre-calving group, they stay in the dry cow group, where manure scrapers are running. Those scrapers don’t recognize a calf. smaXtec has always helped us identify these cows, especially when calving happens earlier than expected with twins.”

Conclusion: “smaXtec is worth its weight in gold!”

“These sensors are so advanced that they provide reliable information, maybe even more reliable than a person could,” summarizes Thomas Böser. “I can only recommend it to anyone who wants to make their work easier. It’s a smart, worthwhile investment. smaXtec is truly worth its weight in gold.”