Ben Verbist
Olen, Belgium
Nedap Solutions
“We simply couldn’t do without the Cow Locator* anymore. If it ever stops working, it has to be fixed immediately.”
Ben Verbist runs a family dairy farm in Olen together with his parents. With just three people managing around 250 cows, efficiency and smart technology are essential to keep the operation running smoothly.
*The Lely Cow Locator includes heat and health monitoring and cow locating.
How heat and health detection with cow locating improves farm management.
“I’ve been in the barn since I was a child, always working alongside my father. I started working straight after school and never wanted to do anything else.” Farming is in Ben’s DNA. Generations before him built the foundation, and today he continues that legacy with a strong focus on productivity, animal welfare, and innovation.
“We produce around 34 litres of milk per cow per day, with 4% fat and 3.5% protein. Since introducing the Lely robots, we’ve increased production by 7 litres per cow per day.” For Ben, high milk production is not just about numbers, it’s about healthy cows. “If cows are doing well, they will produce more milk. High production should always be the result of a good life for the cow.”
“The biggest advantage of cow monitoring is that you see everything immediately.” Before using monitoring technology, cows were only checked twice a day. Now, with continuous monitoring, issues are detected much faster. “If a cow like Nancy is sick and I notice it in the afternoon, I can immediately locate her and call the vet. There’s no need to wait for the next milking. She gets help much faster.” This proactive approach leads to healthier cows and better overall herd performance.
“I think we easily save between half an hour and forty-five minutes per day just thanks to the Cow Locator.” Time savings translate directly into more flexibility and better planning. Instead of searching for cows manually, Ben can focus on what really matters.
With the Lely Cow Locator, powered by Nedap, Ben focuses on heat detection, health, rumination, feeding, and the location of the cows. “The Lely technology works 24/7.” With Lely Horizon, Ben has access to precise, real-time insights. “Horizon tells us the exact moment for insemination. We can check the cow’s location via the Cow Locator and act immediately.” The system is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. “I can click on any cow and find everything I need. It’s very clear and user-friendly.”
“The app is the same as on the computer. It’s clear and readable, and very easy to use.” Whether in the barn or on the go, Ben can monitor performance anytime. “I check production results in the morning and evening, and sometimes during the day on my phone.”
“Lely and Nedap technology has become indispensable. We came from a traditional milking parlour, and you can really see what a huge step forward this is.” For Ben Verbist, the combination of automation, real-time data, and smart cow monitoring has transformed daily operations—making the farm more efficient, flexible, and future-proof
by 7 litres per cow per day
with health issues detected much faster
by saving between half an hour and forty-five minutes per day
