No More Searching for Lame Cows
Before SmartSight, detecting lameness was often slow and uncertain. Joe says he used to notice problems only when cows were clearly struggling. “Previously, we were generally only finding cows in the last row at the back of the line walking in for milking.” Finding them took time, too. Someone had to stand in the yard, watch individual cows, write down numbers and push them to be drafted. “So, this took away that work.”
Now things are much easier. Instead of scanning the yard for signs of lameness, Joe simply checks the Nedap app. “With the SmartSight system, now, we don't go out into the yard looking for lameness. We go to the Nedap app and any cows that are up on the app, they're drafted and treated.”
This has made detection faster, treatment earlier, and the whole process more efficient.
Seeing Progress Every Day
One of Joe’s favourite parts of SmartSight is how it tracks each cow over time. The system shows when a cow begins to develop a problem and how she recovers after treatment. “Basically you're watching the progress of the cow… you can see how she's improving, or if she's going to need a second visit.”
This daily monitoring gives Joe confidence that nothing is missed. “Every day the system is watching and presenting information to you.” Knowing exactly when a cow is struggling – even before it becomes obvious – means he can act at the right moment.
Finding Problems That Are Easy to Treat
When SmartSight was first installed, Joe was surprised by what it found. The system identified cows he would never have called lame. “It was picking up cows that we wouldn't have considered lame.” Watching them in the yard, he could hardly tell anything was wrong. But when he lifted their feet, he discovered small issues such as stones or early scald. “Cases that were really quick and really easy to treat at that stage.”
Catching these cases early prevents bigger problems later, reduces pain for the cows, and saves time and money. “So it was a good outcome for the cows and for us.”
Supporting Cow Welfare and Farm Performance
For Joe, good cow welfare is at the heart of running a successful dairy farm. “The most important workers on a dairy farm are the cows… and it's our job to look after them as best we can.” Lameness is one of the biggest challenges, but SmartSight has made a clear difference. “We’ve found that using the SmartSight system, it's finding cows a lot earlier… from a welfare point of view, it’s definitely a better outcome for the cow.”
With SmartSight helping him detect issues sooner and treat cows at the right time, Joe feels confident his herd is healthier, more comfortable and performing better—every single day.
