On a dairy farm, timing is everything, especially when it comes to herd health. The earlier a health issue is detected, the better the chances of effective treatment, lower costs, and minimal impact on productivity.
But with large herds and subtle symptoms, it’s nearly impossible to see every change in behavior with the human eye alone.
That’s where activity monitoring steps in. By continuously tracking rumination, feeding, rest, and mobility, farmers gain a 24/7 window into cow wellbeing, transforming early signs of illness into actionable insights that protect both the animal and the business.
The cost of missed health challenges
Undetected illness comes at a high price. Transition-phase diseases such as milk fever, ketosis, displaced abomasum, and metritis not only compromise animal welfare but also reduce milk yield, increase veterinary costs, and shorten cow longevity. A single case of milk fever is estimated to cost around US $246 while ketosis can average nearly US $180 per cow, and a displaced abomasum may exceed US $600 in multiparous cows1. What’s more, once symptoms are visible, the condition may already be advanced, making treatment more difficult and expensive.
Relying on visual observation alone means cows may go unnoticed until symptoms are obvious. Research comparing activity monitoring with traditional checks found that automated systems consistently identified health issues days earlier, allowing treatment before the condition worsened. This not only improves recovery but also reduces the need for unnecessary lock-up time, improving welfare while cutting labor.
How activity monitoring works as an early warning system
The system learns what’s normal for each cow and flags when something looks off compared to her history or her group. A drop in rumination or feed intake, more time spent lying down, or other changes in daily patterns can all be early signs that a cow isn’t feeling well.
Often these shifts appear days before anything is visible to the human eye, giving farmers a valuable head start. In severe, acute conditions, behavior can deteriorate very quickly, cows may go for several hours with little or no rumination or feeding. Such changes are almost impossible to notice through visual observation alone, but automated alerts capture them in real time, enabling faster checks, earlier treatment, and better outcomes.
The benefits of early detection
When farmers intervene earlier, both cows and operations benefit:
• Improved animal welfare: Health issues are treated quickly, minimizing pain and discomfort.
• Higher milk yields: Healthy cows are more productive, with fewer dips in output.
• Lower treatment costs: Early intervention means less need for intensive care or antibiotics.
• Extended longevity: Cows that stay healthier remain productive in the herd for more lactations.
Activity monitoring doesn’t replace clinical checks — it highlights cows that need attention. Once alerted, farmers or veterinarians can evaluate the animal and, when appropriate, start supportive treatments such as fluids, propylene glycol, or anti-inflammatories. Studies indicate that when supportive or non-antibiotic interventions are applied at early signs of illness (even before severe clinical symptoms), cows tend to recover faster, with reduced severity of disease and lower antibiotic use.² By turning invisible signals into visible actions, activity monitoring helps create a healthier, more resilient herd.
Building resilience through data
Sustainable dairy farming isn’t just about lowering emissions; it’s about protecting the long-term health and productivity of every cow. By detecting problems early, activity monitoring reduces health-related losses, helps more cows complete additional lactations, and lowers replacement pressure. Stronger, longer-lasting herds mean steadier milk output, fewer unexpected costs, and a smaller footprint per liter of milk. The result is a business that’s more profitable, resilient, and built to thrive year after year.
References:
¹ Liang, D., Arnold, L. M., Stowe, C. J., Harmon, R. J., & Bewley, J. M. (2017). Estimating US dairy clinical disease costs with a stochastic simulation model. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(2), 1472–1486. University of Kentucky.
² Krömker, V. et al. (2025). Ketoprofen as the sole initial treatment for nonsevere bovine mastitis: Efficacy and antibiotic reduction. Journal of Dairy Science, 108(5), 4125–4135.