Cow collars a 'no-brainer' for Mayo dairy farmer

Dairy farming is without a doubt a full-time job, especially when it comes to the constant monitoring of animal health and performance.

For one dairy farmer in Co. Mayo, when he is trying to balance an off farm job alongside a herd of cows, adopting cow collars becomes a ‘no-brainer’.

Dermot Reilly is operating a split calving system in Ballina in north Co. Mayo. Dermot’s herd comprises 50% calving down in autumn, and a further 50% calving in the spring.

The herd is held on a 128ac milking block, while Dermot rents an additional 80ac for heifer rearing and silage.

And with Dermot working off farm, monitoring cows for any health issues, especially around calving, and picking cows in heat at breeding was a constant challenge.

Therefore in late 2023, Dermot sat down and explored what options could help him keep an eye on the farm and make it more efficient.

SenseHub Cow Collars

Dermot’s biggest concern was detecting cows in heat while he was off the farm, and he needed some type of technology to solve this challenge.

In January 2024, Dermot installed SenseHub Cow Collars from MSD Animal Health, with the help of the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).

Despite installing the system for its heat detection ability, the Mayo farmer said he was taken aback by the array of benefits that came with the cow collars.

He feels the cow collars help to keep the herd in a healthier condition, flagging any issues such as mastitis early, allowing treatment to be administered before they get sick.

The Mayo farmer believes having everything live on his phone and laptop 24/7 is a huge benefit, saying the system is like having an “extra person” on the farm.

Dermot also found the system eliminated the need for stock bulls, which saved him money in the long-run and also gave him “peace of mind” in terms of health and safety when people are milking for him.

Drafting gate

Dermot then installed the SenseHub Drafting Gate from MSD Animal Health in October 2025.

He said it was always the plan to install the drafter to streamline operations and to “seamlessly” draft out cows for breeding or to investigate sick animals.

The dairy farmer added that the drafting gate “takes the nervousness out of it for the cows”.

“You are not chasing them around the sheds, you are not chasing them around the parlour.

“When you are finished milking, they are there waiting for you, whatever cows you have drafted off.”

When speaking about the system as a whole, Dermot said: “Life with SenseHub is very beneficial for me as I have three young kids myself, so I get to spend more time with them.