Stowell Farms introduced PrecisionCOW collars three and a half years ago as a straightforward solution to a growing challenge: accurately identifying bulling heifers within a large herd. Today, the impact of this decision is evident. Walking through the farm, it is clear how effectively the technology integrates with strong stockmanship, creating a well-managed and highly efficient system.
The PrecisionCOW collars, powered by Nedap, are used to monitor heifer health and identify heats at an earlier stage. Heifers typically wear the collars for six to eight weeks leading up to bulling, allowing the farm team to closely track behavioural changes and optimise breeding decisions.
“The collars allow us to identify a correct heat at the right time for that heifer,” explains Chris Gowen, Herd Manager at Stowell Farms. “We cannot look at every cow every day - there are 280-300 heifers reared annually here, so we simply cannot afford to miss any.”
“They also pick up those silent heats that no one sees in the middle of the night, which makes a huge difference.”
At Stowell Farms, the target age at first calving is 24 months, and the introduction of PrecisionCOW technology has contributed to improved reproductive performance. Both conception and insemination rates have increased to 86% and 1.55 straws respectively, up from 74% and 1.85 straws in 2022 when the farm was still using its previous collar system.
Real-world results have reinforced confidence in the technology. “The collar system alerts us to heifers bulling and even though we are not 100% convinced they are, we trust the system enough to serve and low and behold they hold” Chris explains.
“For example, the other day I PD’d 21 heifers that the collars had flagged as in heat; 19 are in calf, one was negative and one was a recheck. That’s not a one-off, that is all year round, so that speaks volumes” Chris adds.
While the collars play a crucial role in heat detection, they are also a valuable support tool for the farm’s full-time heifer rearer. Health incidents within the heifer group remain extremely low, at around five cases per year, and mortality is effectively non-existent.
Recognising the benefits, the farm has continued to invest in the system. “We have recently bought another 20 collars so we can keep them on for longer,” Chris explains. “It’s a steady investment, but there’s never any pushback when I ask for more - they pay for themselves within a year.”
Chris highlights that simplicity is key to making systems work effectively on farm. “I think we use a great philosophy. I was told by someone two or three years ago something called KISS - ‘keep it simple, stupid’. The simpler it is, the easier it is for someone to go and do it, and the more chance there is of it actually getting done.”
He also emphasises the value of breeding from natural heats. “I also think that’s a good way of breeding good heifers. If you want a heifer that breeds naturally and shows natural heat, and you can serve her off that, it’s better than relying on injections later on in life.”
“It also helps weed out those low fertility heifers because you’re effectively carrying out natural selection within your system.”
Ideally, the team would like to extend collar use to 60-80 days. This would allow for the detection of reabsorptions and help maintain a tight calving pattern. As Chris emphasises, time efficiency is critical for any dairy operation, regardless of size.
“And the beauty is that it’s all on your phone. You don’t have to go and check each heifer individually; the labour efficiency is one of the biggest benefits. Another major advantage is that it enables us to carry out all breeding on natural heats.”
Maintaining strong fertility remains a key priority. “You just don’t need fertility issues - they become costly later in life. The unsung heroes are those cows that get in calf and quietly do their job. We’ve had seven cows in the last six months reach 100 tonnes.”
At Stowell Farms, PrecisionCOW collars have become an integral part of daily management; supporting both productivity and animal welfare. As Chris concludes, the system has firmly earned its place: a reliable, data-driven “team member” that helps the farm stay ahead in modern dairy management.