Data-Driven Animal Welfare at Hunland's Dairy Farm
Today, successful dairy farming is about far more than production results. Animal welfare, preventive herd health management and data-driven decision-making have become equally important pillars of modern dairy operations. At Hunland’s dairy farm in Felsővány, we use advanced monitoring technology that provides real-time insights into the health and behaviour of our cows, helping us make informed decisions every day.
Sensors, Connected Systems and Data-Driven Dairy Farming
Our goal was to create a data-driven dairy operation where milking systems, milking robots, activity monitoring sensors and herd management software work together as one integrated ecosystem, supporting everyday decision-making across the farm.
Having already implemented Afimilk’s milking management system at our Felsővány dairy farm, introducing the AfiCollar monitoring system in 2024 was the next logical step. Today, the system collects real-time data from nearly 2,000 cows every day, providing valuable insights that support both animal welfare and farm performance.
What Does the Smart Collar Monitor?
The intelligent sensor fitted to each cow continuously collects real-time data on the animal’s behaviour and activity. By analysing the movement and frequency of the neck muscles, advanced algorithms generate valuable insights into the health, welfare and physiological status of each individual cow.
The system continuously monitors:
- Rumination
- Water intake
- Resting and lying time
- Activity levels
- Walking behaviour
While each data point is valuable on its own, the real strength lies in combining sensor data with information from the milk analysis system in the milking parlour. This integrated approach provides a more complete picture of each cow’s health, welfare and productivity.
Milk Data and Early Health Alerts
The AfiLab system analyses the milk of every individual cow during each milking session, providing valuable additional insights that go far beyond milk production. By combining these data with behavioural information from the AfiCollar system, we gain a comprehensive understanding of each animal’s health and performance. This integrated approach enables us to improve production efficiency while always putting the needs and welfare of the animals first.
The system continuously measures:
- Milk fat content
- Milk protein content
- Milk electrical conductivity
Changes in milk conductivity can be one of the earliest indicators of mastitis. In many cases, the system identifies potential health issues and generates an alert before any visible clinical symptoms appear.
Every morning, our farm team receives automatically generated health alert lists, allowing them to respond quickly and proactively. These include notifications for:
- Suspected metabolic disorders
- Early signs of lameness
- Potential mastitis cases
- Cows in heat
- Non-specific health alerts, indicating that an animal shows unusual behavioural or physiological patterns and should be examined.
Early detection is one of the greatest advantages of precision dairy farming. By identifying potential health issues before they develop into clinical diseases, we can intervene earlier, improve animal welfare, reduce treatment needs and support more sustainable dairy production.
Lower Culling Rates, Reduced Hormone Use
Since implementing the system at our Felsővány dairy farm, we have reduced culling rates by 30–40%. Earlier detection of health issues enables our team to respond more quickly and precisely, improving treatment outcomes while supporting long-term herd health.
Data-driven precision dairy farming has also transformed reproductive management. By continuously monitoring body temperature and activity levels, we can accurately identify the optimal time for insemination. As a result, we have significantly reduced the use of hormone-based synchronization programmes.
Relying on natural heat detection has not only improved reproductive efficiency but also supports the cows’ natural biological processes. At the same time, reduced hormone use means that less estrogen is returned to the environment through manure, contributing to more sustainable livestock farming and crop production.
The Future of Dairy Farming: Data, Prevention and Animal Welfare
At Hunland, smart sensors are far more than technological devices. They are part of a data-driven approach where prevention, animal comfort and sustainable farming go hand in hand.
For us, modern dairy farming is not only about improving production efficiency—it is about creating a healthier, safer and better-managed environment for every animal in our care.
The future of dairy production will increasingly rely on real-time data, precision decision-making and responsible animal husbandry. At our Felsővány dairy farm, the smart monitoring system is already playing a key role in making this vision a reality.
In the video below, Áron Simon, Head of Dairy Production, explains how the AfiCollar smart sensor system supports the daily work of our team and contributes to better animal welfare and more efficient herd management.
