JJ Pagel
CEO Pagel’s Family Businesses
Kewaunee WI, USA
At Pagel’s Ponderosa, part of the larger Pagel Family Businesses, managing a herd of over 11,000 cows across multiple sites is no small feat. With a commitment to innovation and efficiency, the family recently turned to the Alta Cow Watch system powered by Nedap and the SmartSort gate to enhance their dairy operations. This decision has not only optimized herd management but also revolutionized how they maintain cow health and streamline breeding processes.
"We keep all our information all the time and it works really, really well for our team."
The installation of the Alta Cow Watch system, combined with Nedap’s SmartSort gate, has been a game changer for Pagel’s Ponderosa. With five different sites and 4,000 cows passing through the SmartSort gate per shift, the system helps the team focus on the cows that need attention. “The Alta Cow Watch system powered by Nedap and the SmartSort gate is working very well for us,” says Chris Szydel, herd manager at Pagel’s Ponderosa. “It does a great job of identifying the cows that need attention on a day-to-day basis.”
One of the standout features of the system is its ability to work with the herd health teams seamlessly. On busy breeding or herd check days, compliance is nearly 100%, thanks to the efficiency of the sort gates. The technology minimizes disruptions, allowing most of the herd to continue their routine without unnecessary interference. “Having the sort gates helps us work with the cows we need without disrupting the rest of the herd,” Szydel explains. “If we’re only separating the cows we need, the rest of the herd can just go back and be a cow—eat, drink, walk around, lay down, and be a cow.”
One of the most significant advantages of integrating Nedap technology into the operation is the ability to collect and analyze data from multiple sites. This ensures that no matter where a cow is moved, the baseline information remains intact. “We can move animals between the sites, and we don’t lose our baselines,” emphasizes JJ Pagel, CEO of Pagel Family Businesses. This mobility, combined with consistent data tracking, allows the team to compare performance across dairies. This deeper insight enables fine-tuning of operations and ensures that issues are identified early. “It helps us dig into data a little bit more and see what’s going on,” Pagel adds.
The ability to track and compare health and productivity metrics from multiple sites has led to more informed decisions, enhancing overall efficiency. Reports from the system highlight any differences between dairies, helping the team to adjust strategies and optimize results across the board.
The technological upgrade has also improved the quality of life for both cows and employees. By streamlining health monitoring and reducing the need for manual labor, the team has become more efficient. “This technology has helped us improve life on the farm because it gave us the ability to let cows be cows,” they share. The cows can return to their pens without interruption, maintaining their natural behavior while the staff focuses on those that need attention.
For the employees, the system has transformed the way they work. Instead of manually monitoring each cow, they can now rely on data-driven insights provided through their phones or computers. This has made their daily tasks more manageable and less labor-intensive. “It gave us so many more opportunities to put our eyes on cows without having to physically be out there,” they note. “It just made our team more efficient.”
Beyond the immediate operational benefits, Pagel’s Ponderosa values its partnership with Nedap and Alta. The shared goal of innovation and continuous improvement resonates deeply with the Pagel family’s philosophy of leaving things better than they found them. “At the end of the day, we wanted a partner. We wanted somebody who’s going to partner with our dairy, with our farms, and work with our teams to make us better,” JJ Pagel emphasizes.
By leveraging Nedap’s cutting-edge technology and maintaining close relationships with their partners, Pagel’s Ponderosa is not only improving its dairy operations but also contributing to a more sustainable and efficient future for the industry.
For Pagel’s Ponderosa, integrating Alta Cow Watch, powered by Nedap and the Nedap SmartSort gate has been a significant step forward in optimizing herd health, streamlining operations, and making life better for both cows and employees. This partnership highlights how innovative technology can lead to smarter, more efficient dairy farming practices that benefit everyone involved.
Learn more about the Nedap SmartSort Get in touch with Alta Genetics
