How Dairy Technology Is Helping Farmers Make Better Herd Health Decisions

Technology has become one of the most powerful tools available to dairy producers today.

But the farms seeing the biggest impact aren't adopting technology simply because it's new.

They're using it to solve real problems.

That's exactly what happened at Laurel Brook Farm, where Shelby Jacquier Washburn has helped lead a transformation in how herd health decisions are made.

What started as an unexpected return to the family farm during the pandemic quickly evolved into an opportunity to rethink how data and technology could improve cow health, management decisions, and the long-term future of the operation.

Her experience highlights an important shift happening across the dairy industry: producers are moving from reactive management to proactive decision-making.

The Future of Herd Health Starts with Better Information

For years, dairy producers relied heavily on visual observation to identify health challenges.

And while experience and stockmanship remain incredibly important, technology is creating opportunities to identify issues much earlier than ever before.

That's what Shelby discovered when her farm implemented the Nedap Now system.

Initially, the idea wasn't universally embraced. Like many farms evaluating new technology, there were questions about whether the investment would truly provide value.

But the data quickly started telling a story.

The monitoring system allowed the team to identify health events earlier, track cow behavior more accurately, and gain insights that simply weren't available before.

For Shelby, it became clear that better information leads to better decisions.

Early Detection Can Change Outcomes

One of the biggest advantages of dairy technology is the ability to catch problems before they become major issues.

Instead of waiting until a cow visibly appears sick, monitoring systems can identify subtle behavioral changes that signal something is wrong.

At Laurel Brook Farm, that led to improvements in fresh cow management, earlier identification of health concerns, and more informed culling decisions.

The result wasn't just healthier cows.

It also meant fewer severe health events, more targeted interventions, and a greater ability to address challenges before they became costly problems.

For many dairy producers, that's where technology delivers its greatest value—not replacing management, but helping managers act sooner.

Data Can Reveal Problems You Didn't Know Existed

One of the most interesting lessons Shelby shared was how technology uncovered issues the farm wasn't actively looking for.

A perfect example was heat stress.

Like many dairy operations, Laurel Brook Farm understood heat stress was a concern. But the data revealed just how significant the impact truly was.

Armed with better information, the farm made improvements to ventilation and cooling systems, particularly in holding areas.

The results were noticeable.

Health improved. Cow comfort improved. Milk production improved.

Without the data, some of those opportunities may have remained hidden.

And that's one of the biggest strengths of modern dairy technology: helping producers see patterns that would otherwise be difficult to detect.

Technology Supports Better Decision-Making

One misconception about technology is that it replaces people.

Shelby sees it differently.

The best technology doesn't replace stockmanship or management experience. It enhances it.

Data provides another layer of information that helps producers make more confident decisions.

Whether it's monitoring fresh cows, identifying lameness, evaluating reproduction performance, or improving calf health, technology serves as a decision-support tool that allows managers to focus their time where it's needed most.

The human element remains essential.

Technology simply helps producers become more proactive.

Innovation Is a Long-Term Investment

One thing that stands out about Shelby's leadership is her willingness to think beyond immediate results.

Rather than viewing technology as a short-term solution, she sees it as part of a long-term strategy for keeping the farm competitive and sustainable.

That includes exploring future tools, such as lameness detection technology, and continuing to evaluate opportunities that improve both cow care and operational efficiency.

For Shelby, innovation isn't about chasing trends.

It's about building a farm that remains viable and successful for future generations.

The Next Generation Is Driving Change

Shelby's story reflects a broader trend happening across the dairy industry.

Many next-generation dairy leaders are bringing fresh perspectives, new ideas, and a willingness to embrace tools that previous generations may not have had access to.

That doesn't mean abandoning tradition.

It means combining generations of farming experience with modern technology to make better decisions and create stronger businesses.

At Laurel Brook Farm, that balance between innovation and tradition is helping shape the future of the operation.

Shelby Jacquier Washburn didn't originally plan to return to the family dairy, but today, she's helping lead the farm into its next chapter by embracing one of the industry's most powerful tools: information.

Her experience at Laurel Brook Farm demonstrates how technology can improve herd health, strengthen decision-making, and create opportunities for long-term success.

Because in modern dairy farming, better data isn't just about collecting numbers.

It's about making better decisions for cows, employees, and the future of the farm.

To hear the complete discussion, stream now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.