Merck Expanded Dairy Monitoring Tech for Calves
Dairy producers can now track bucket-fed calves using existing monitoring tools to improve herd health and labor efficiency.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Pet Health
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Merck Animal Health has extended its SenseHub Dairy Youngstock monitoring technology to include bucket-fed preweaned calves. This update integrates directly into the existing software and hardware systems used by current dairy operations.
Why it matters
Early health interventions for calves can prevent significant production losses, such as the 267 pounds of milk typically lost in a first lactation following a bout of respiratory disease. By automating monitoring, producers can better allocate labor to animals that require immediate care.
The system utilizes ear tags and LED indicators to track health, supporting a reduction in heifer replacement costs, which average $3,000 per head. The expanded monitoring requires no additional software activation for existing users.
The players
Merck Animal Health
A division of the pharmaceutical giant that produces dairy management technology and has operated for over 130 years.
The details
The technology monitors calves 24/7 through specialized ear tags that relay activity data to the SenseHub Insights web-based dashboard. This interface automates trend analysis for herd-level performance, allowing veterinarians and producers to pinpoint individual calves needing attention. The system uses the same hardware and LED notification features originally launched for bottle-fed calves in 2024.
Timeline
2024: SenseHub Dairy Youngstock launched for bottle-fed calves.
September 29, 2026: Merck announced the new bucket-fed monitoring capability.
The Home Front
This technological shift addresses the high costs associated with herd replacement, which average $3,000 per heifer. It aligns with long-term industry efforts to mitigate losses identified in the 2021 systematic review on bovine respiratory disease.
Dairy producers already using the system should verify that their existing ear tag hardware is compatible with the latest dashboard updates. Ensure your herd management data is synced regularly to benefit from the new automated trend analysis features.
The takeaway
Automated calf monitoring helps reduce mortality rates by as much as 63% and significantly lowers daily labor requirements. Managers should monitor the SenseHub Insights dashboard to identify health trends early and contact their veterinarian regarding specific intervention protocols for flagged calves.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in animal monitoring on the Pet Health section of our site.
More information
For more details on features and compatibility, visit the SenseHub Dairy product website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Feedstuffs.
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