SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock by Merck Animal Health enhances calf health monitoring, aiding producers with efficient intervention, advancing dairy herd management.

New Jersey: Merck Animal Health, also known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, has announced the launch of SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock, a groundbreaking monitoring technology designed for dairy calves from birth through their first 12 months.

SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock simplifies the task for dairy producers in identifying and locating calves and heifers requiring attention. Using proprietary, science-based algorithms, the technology continuously monitors animal behaviors through a specialized SENSEHUB monitoring ear tag. This system detects deviations from an animal's normal behaviors, signaling potential health issues. Equipped with a blinking LED light, the SENSEHUB ear tag helps workers quickly pinpoint these animals for timely interventions. Implementing SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock is straightforward with support from the Merck Animal Health team.

Studies reveal that calves diagnosed with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) are over twice as likely to perish or be removed from the herd before their first calving. Additionally, heifers experiencing BRD during calfhood exhibit lower average daily weight gain and reduced milk production in their initial lactations.

Calves often conceal signs of illness, but SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock helps overcome this by identifying potential indicators of sickness, often before visible symptoms appear to caregivers. Moreover, the technology enables dairy producers to utilize labor more efficiently.

At Diamond H Dairy of Chowchilla, California, the new monitoring technology has significantly improved calf health management.

SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock is compatible with management systems for nipple-fed calves housed in individual hutches from birth to weaning, as well as post-weaning calves in group pens from three to 12 months old. Monitoring tags are affixed as part of the neonatal calf processing and begin providing actionable data within 27 hours.

Dairy producers are advised to seek guidance from their veterinarians regarding disease diagnosis and intervention protocols. For further information about SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock, visit SENSEHUB-Dairy.com.

Part of the SENSEHUB brand family from Merck Animal Health, SENSEHUB Dairy offers advanced monitoring technology empowering dairy and beef producers with control over every aspect of their operations. SENSEHUB Dairy provides actionable insights for optimizing dairy herd productivity and management. For feedlot, backgrounding, and stocker operations, SENSEHUB Feedlot aids in detecting potentially ill cattle earlier, more efficiently, and with greater accuracy than traditional visual observation.

It is important to note that SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock, SENSEHUB Dairy, and SENSEHUB Feedlot are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any animal diseases. For animal disease diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention, consultation with a veterinarian is recommended. The data accuracy of this product does not aim to match that of medical devices or scientific measurement tools.

The SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock monitoring ear tag includes a blinking LED light for easy identification of animals needing attention and appropriate interventions.

Brandt Kreuscher, dairy business development manager, North America, Merck Animal Health, comments, “This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we raise calves and heifers. For the first time, dairy producers can harness objective data to find calves that may need extra care and then provide early intervention to keep them on a path toward becoming healthy and productive cows. With SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock, dairy workers can focus their valuable time and resources on the calves and heifers that need attention, leaving the others alone. The efficiency associated with the technology allows herd managers to adjust the workflow on their operation and more effectively utilize their best employees.”

Travis Hooker at Diamond H Dairy, comments, “Travis Hooker at Diamond H Dairy. Having this technology allows us to more closely manage every little piece of each calf’s life.”

According to TechSci Research, the introduction of SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock by Merck Animal Health marks a significant advancement in animal health management, particularly within the agriculture sector. This innovative technology is poised to have a profound impact on the growth of the animal health market, the integration of AI in agriculture, and the overall agriculture market.

Within the animal health market, SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock presents a new frontier in monitoring and caring for dairy calves. By offering real-time insights into calf behaviors and health indicators, it allows producers to detect potential illnesses earlier and apply timely interventions. This can lead to reduced mortality rates, improved weight gain, and ultimately healthier herds. Consequently, the demand for such advanced animal health solutions is likely to increase, driving growth in this sector.

The integration of AI in agriculture receives a boost with the introduction of SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock. This technology harnesses proprietary algorithms to constantly monitor and analyze calf behaviors, providing actionable data for producers. The utilization of AI in this context not only enhances efficiency but also sets a precedent for future AI applications in livestock management. As AI becomes more prevalent in agriculture, there will be a growing demand for similar smart technologies that optimize operations and improve productivity.

The agriculture market stands to benefit from the adoption of SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock. Healthy calves lead to healthier herds, which in turn increases milk production efficiency and overall farm profitability. This technology supports sustainable farming practices by minimizing the use of antibiotics through early disease detection. As farms embrace these advancements, they become more competitive and resilient in the market.