Managing the herd one animal at a time
Precision livestock farming means measuring and managing the natural variation in a herd — ideally one animal at a time. Dairy is leading that shift for a simple reason: small, early changes in a cow's behaviour reveal health and fertility problems days before anyone can see them.
At herd scale, manual observation can't keep up. Greenfield Smart Collars give every animal a continuous digital record, so herd managers spend their time on the cows that actually need attention.
- Individual ID is the backbone. Every reading is tied to a specific cow.
- Rumination is the key signal. Eating and rumination drop during heat and at the onset of illness.
- The science is proven. The collar builds on decades of accelerometer and bioacoustic research.
How it works
- Collar sensors — a 3-axis accelerometer and a skin-temperature sensor track behaviour 24/7.
- Wireless transmission — data travels to an on-farm gateway up to 1 km away.
- Cloud analytics — algorithms learn each cow's normal pattern and flag anomalies.
- Farmer alerts — health and heat alerts go straight to a phone.
Key specifications
| Sensors | 3-axis accelerometer plus skin temperature |
|---|---|
| Metrics tracked | Rumination, activity, feeding, rest and heat; optional GPS location |
| Battery life | Up to 5 years, no recharging |
| Connectivity | Up to 1 km wireless link to the on-farm gateway |
| Data refresh | New readings every 15–20 minutes, around the clock |
| Durability | IP67 waterproof, rugged webbing strap |
Where it pays off
- Heat detection pinpoints the best insemination window to raise conception rates.
- Calving alerts notify the farmer as calving nears, so someone can be there in time.
- Early illness detection uses falling rumination and activity to flag sick cows before clinical signs appear.
- Heat-stress management identifies stressed animals so shade, water and feeding can be adjusted.
Illustrative figures based on published dairy smart-collar studies; actual results vary by herd.
Better together with Greenfield Fodder
Feed is the largest cost a livestock operation can control. Greenfield's hydroponic fodder systems grow fresh feed from seed to trough in seven days, year-round. The collars show how each animal responds to the ration — and fodder gives the farmer direct control over that ration.