Every morning at Breakneck Farm starts the same way - with a cup of coffee and a quick check of the phone. But Phil Smith isn't scrolling through social media. He's reviewing critical data about his 200-strong dairy herd, thanks to PrecisionCOW technology powered by Nedap collars.

"It generally is peace of mind in a way," Phil explains. "Peace of mind that you've got that data there that can just help."

Quick Facts: Breakneck Farm

• Based in Preston, Lancashire
• 200 milking cows
• 10,500 litres average per lactation
• Three-times-daily milking
• 5-month block calving system
• 100 head of youngstock

Transitioning Technology

“Here at Breakneck we're very much data-driven. The reason that we've invested in products like this and other products is because it collects the data. The whole reason for collecting the data is to help with management decisions.” – Phil Smith

Like many dairy farmers, Phil was being let down by his old herd monitoring system, it wasn’t delivering the reliability he needed. After consulting with neighbouring farmers and evaluating various options, he turned to PrecisionCOW, seeking a solution that would enhance both heat detection and health monitoring.

The transition was surprisingly straightforward. "The installation was quite simple," Phil recalls. "We had Brian from Cogent who installed the system in one day, pretty straightforward." With ongoing support from Richard at Cogent, the farm was quickly up and running with their new technology.

The PrecisionCOW Difference

Earlier Detection, Better Outcomes

"It picked up probably 24 hours before I would normally pick it up," Phil explains, discussing a recent mastitis case. This earlier detection means:

• Faster treatment initiation
• Less milk wastage
• Reduced antibiotic usage
• Quicker recovery times

Streamlined Heat Detection

Gone are the days of relying solely on visual observations. Now:

• Automated alerts highlight heats with precision
• Phone access means critical information is always at hand
• Block calving management is more efficient
• Staff can focus on other essential tasks

Data-Driven Decisions

The system transforms daily management through:

• Real-time health monitoring
• Activity pattern tracking
• Feeding behaviour insights
• Comprehensive fertility data

Real Results

"Nine times out of ten if it flags up, there's usually something wrong." - Phil Smith

The real value of PrecisionCOW became clear when the system detected a potential health issue that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. The system flagged a cow with unexpectedly low yield - the first warning sign of trouble. This early alert prompted Phil's team to examine the cow and perform a California milk test (CMT), revealing a subclinical case of mastitis.

Looking to the Future

"In the future," Phil reflects, "with the need for that system in place, maintaining good fertility, improving cow welfare and cow management with nutrition, obviously then that should have a knock-on effect for production and efficiencies and hopefully that would then improve profitability on the farm."

Ready to Transform Your Farm?

PrecisionCOW, powered by Nedap collars, offers dairy farmers a proven way to enhance their operations through reliable, data-driven management. From morning coffee to midnight calvings, it's technology that works as hard as you do.

Contact your local Cogent Genetics Consultant or call for free on 0800 783 7258 to discover how PrecisionCOW can work for your farm.