By Amber Machia
How to Get the Most Out of Your Wearable Data
Since January 2025, the Tri-State Dairy Exchange team has hosted live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of each month, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Sessions have focused on current dairy research and program updates, including interviews, presentations, and roundtable discussions.
The mission of the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team is to unite Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in advancing dairy management through collaborative educational programs, addressing shared industry challenges, and fostering innovation across northern New England. All recorded sessions are available to watch on the UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils YouTube Channel.
In March, the Tri-State Dairy Team hosted a conversation with Dr. Claira Seely, Assistant Professor at the University of New Hampshire, about using technology to monitor and manage cow health during the transition period.
As cows move from the dry period into early and mid-lactation, rapid changes in energy demands lead to significant physiological shifts. Both internal and external stressors during this time can increase the risk of subclinical and clinical health issues.
Animal health monitoring systems highlighted in previous webinars can help producers better manage these challenges by providing real-time metrics and alerts—information that traditionally required visual observation or blood testing and often came too late to prevent problems. Individual cow data from these systems can flag animals early, supporting more proactive and preventative health management.
Dr. Seely explained how data from health monitoring systems helps translate existing research into practical, on-farm decision-making. A key concept is understanding what “normal” looks like for each herd and each individual cow.
While herds have overall health metric benchmarks, every cow has her own baseline that should be used for comparison. Establishing this baseline requires collecting data for at least three to four weeks prior to calving. Even small deviations from an individual cow’s baseline may point to subclinical disorders. Monitoring these patterns—particularly changes in rumination and temperature, or a lack of return to normal levels—can help identify cows that may benefit from additional observation or supportive management.
To learn more and to access the full recording of this webinars and all other webinars in this series, click here.
Up Next: Integrated Farming Solutions with Dairy One, Inc.
The April session will feature speakers Dr. Ben Weikert, Director of the Agricultural Consulting Services (ACS) at Dairy One and Matt Newman, Director of Integrated Farming Solutions at Dairy One. Dairy One, Inc. provides an integrated suite of laboratory, data, and technology services designed to empower dairy and livestock producers with the information and tools needed to support decision making. From soil and forage analysis to milk testing, herd management software, and agronomic consulting, learn how their team uses data-driven tools and systems to help farms enhance productivity, animal health, and operational efficiency. Presenters will speak to systems that work from the barn to the field and that address lameness, feed management, and crop management. View the webinar event flyer here and register now for April 29th, 2026.
2026 Tri-State Dairy Exchange: Advancing Dairy Systems Through Technology
Join the team of Dairy Extension Professionals from UMaine, UNH, and UVM for live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. In 2026, webinars focus on a different topic each quarter. Learn about innovative technology in the dairy sector, extension and industry research, and programs happening in the tri-state region. Enjoy interviews, panels, presentations, discussions, and more! Sessions in the second quarter of the year highlight precision agriculture technology and systems that support decision making from the field to the barn.