Effect of sensor systems on production, health, reproduction and economics on Dutch dairy farms

<p>Sensor systems for oestrus and disease detection are increasingly used on dairy farms. It is, however, not known whether using sensor systems also improves production, health, reproduction and economic performance of the farm. The first objective of this study is to investigate the effect of sensor systems on milk production, days to first service and somatic cell count of the herd. The second objective is to investigate the impact of investment in sensor systems on several cost components and revenues. Data on production, health and reproduction over the years 2003-2013 was available for 414 Dutch dairy farms with sensor systems on an automatic milking system (n=103), with sensor systems on a conventional milking system (n=49) and without (n=262) sensor systems. In addition, farm accounting data of 217 dairy farms with sensor systems on an automatic milking system (n=54), with sensor systems on a conventional milking system (n=36) and without (n=127) sensor systems was available for the years 2008-2013. Having sensor systems was associated with a higher average production per cow on farms with an automatic milking system, and with a lower average production per cow on farms with a conventional milking system in the years after investment. Farms with an automatic milking system had on average 12,000 cells/ml higher somatic cell count after adoption of the sensor system whereas farms with a conventional milking system had on average 10,000 cells/ml lower somatic cell count. Total capital costs and milk revenues increased after investment in sensor systems on farms with an automatic milking system. Labour costs did not decrease after investment in sensor systems.