Smaxtec advances dairy farming through AI-powered mastitis detection

04 Oct 2023 --- US-based software company Smaxtec is introducing artificial intelligence capabilities for managing dairy cows’ health. The company’s new system, Truadvice, offers farmers a higher level of accuracy in detecting and preventing mastitis, a common and costly disease in dairy herds. Smaxtec develops bolus technology and is moving forward by integrating Truadvice into its existing system.

Truadvice, powered by AI, leverages extensive research data from experts, veterinarians and institutions to provide dairy farmers with a precise probability measurement of mastitis.

For farmers, the disease in cows can be burdensome. Despite milk and dairy from animals with subclinical mastitis infections being marketable, mastitis in dairy cows, typically incited by bacteria, raises concerns about milk quality from customers.

Severe clinical mastitis can even cause complete loss of milk production, sometimes even leading to the death of dairy cows. However, the disease can be detected at an early stage before the symptoms appear. Therefore, it is vital to have timely intervention and minimize the economic impact on dairy farms.

A cure for the challenge
Truadvice equips farmers with the tools they need to take proactive measures against disease. This early detection allows the implementation of supportive therapies, such as anti-inflammatories and drenches, to aid in the recovery process and reduce the need for antibiotics.

“Smaxtec’s new AI features allows us to to act even more proactively”, says Amber Horn, manager of Hornstead Dairy in Wisconsin, US.

“Smaxtec was already great in providing real-time health monitoring, but with their Truadvice technology, I get an alert that identifies mastitis as the suspected problem for a specific cow.”

Truadvice assists experienced farmers as well as less-experienced staff in providing optimal care for dairy cows.Stefan Scherer, CEO of Smaxtec, elaborates: “We’re driven by a commitment to revolutionize the way agricultural technologies impact the lives of both cows and dairy farmers, and we expect the indication of a suspected mastitis and its prevention to be the first of many applications compatible with Truadvice technology.”

Empowering farmers with AI
Truadvice not only assists experienced farmers but also aids less-experienced staff in providing optimal care for dairy cows, ultimately leading to faster recovery and improved animal welfare.

Smaxtec has been working on innovation in cow health monitoring with earlier projects such as “level zero,” which detects mastitis through precise inner body temperature measurements. 

Currently, the industry is working on an AI-driven solution that streamlines data management and empowers dairy farmers to proactively manage their herd’s health. 

Herdvision’s 3D imagery systems, a technology that was developed in the UK, uses artificial intelligence to assist in managing cow welfare is expected to remove human subjectivity.

By Sichong Wang