Driving Profitability with Dairy Technology: Insights from Galen Smith of Coldstream Farms
How two decades of monitoring tools and a data-first approach guide decisions on a Northwest dairy
Galen Smith of Coldstream Farms brings more than 20 years of experience using technology to guide herd management, reproduction and profitability. In a recent conversation with Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen, he shared how monitoring devices, automated systems and collaboration with trusted advisors help the farm remain competitive in a challenging milk market.
Two Decades of Monitoring Technology Built the Foundation
Coldstream Farms began adopting monitoring systems in 2006 with early pedometers that logged activity only when cows passed through the parlor. “We were one of the early adopters of the original pedometer,” Galen said. He later moved to two-hour activity tags, and most recently, to CowScout collars paired with the Nedap Now platform.
“These tags and those batteries are starting to fail, so we had to really look at what technologies were available,” he said. The farm reinvested in collars because of stronger integration and more actionable data.
Technology Helps Catch Sick Cows Days Earlier
Galen emphasized that technology does not replace good stockmanship, but it enhances it. “We have really great cow people, but without technology, you have to have really great cow people,” he said. When paired together, early alerts allow employees to act sooner.
The collars often detect problems “five to eight days before people could even recognize it,” he said. As a result, Coldstream has decreased mortality to 1.6%, compared with the prior rate of 3-5%
A European Trip Highlighted the Future of Dairy Tech
During a recent visit to the Netherlands and Germany with other Nedap users, Galen was struck by the rapid advances being developed. He noted several innovations, including:
• SmartSight for AI-based lameness detection
• SmartSort for improved sorting efficiency
• Ear-based SmartTag as an alternative to collars
The trip also reinforced that European dairies face the same issues as U.S. farms: reproduction, feed management and labor. “We fight the same fight,” he said.
A Challenging Milk Market Requires Data-Driven Decisions
As a Dairy Gold shipper, Coldstream has absorbed significant deductions tied to new plant construction. “It has been very difficult,” Galen said. Rising input costs and lower milk prices have forced members to make tough decisions.
The hardship hasn’t shifted his focus, but it has sharpened priorities.
Reproduction Gains Delivered Immediate Payback
One of the strongest returns has come from improved heat detection. Prior activity tags had dropped to 55-60% detection. After installing Cow Scout collars, rates quickly reached 65%, with regular performance above 70%.
Conception rates also improved dramatically. A relief breeder, once averaging 32% reached 46% using the Nedap Now interface. “It really put things into pictures,” Galen said. “It was almost overnight.”
Hear the full conversation with Galen Smith on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and watch part 1 below.
