Fitbits for cows? Yep, it’s a thing! Activity trackers are a part of everyday life on many dairy farms. This modern technology is changing the way dairy farmers care for their cows, helping them keep their herd healthy, comfortable and thriving.
How Activity Trackers for Cows Work
From the moment a cow stands up in the morning to when she lies down, every action she does affects her well-being and productivity.
Cow activity trackers use wearable sensors—often attached to collars, ear tags or leg bands—to continuously gather data on each cow’s behavior. These devices monitor things like movement, rest, eating and rumination time 24/7. The trackers create a baseline for each animal and generate detailed reports for farmers.
Detecting Illness Early
If a cow has a sudden change in behavior, like taking fewer steps or laying down too much, it could be an early sign that something is wrong. Activity trackers can alert farmers to sudden changes like these so they can check on the animal right away. This results in less cow discomfort and can often prevent a minor issue from becoming a more serious illness.
Supporting the Farmer
While activity trackers are powerful tools, they don’t replace the experience, instincts and daily presence of a dairy farmer. Technology can flag changes in behavior, but it’s the farmer who interprets that data and takes action. Farmers still walk their barns every day, observing their cows up close—looking for signs that something’s off, offering extra attention when needed and building trust with their animals.
Ohio dairy farmer Will Mengel says, “Of course, the monitors don’t replace the time we spend with the cows observing them, but they’ve been a great addition to our cow health program.”
