As new innovations for farm management emerge, Stewart Farms Inc. is a quick adopter. Joe Stewart, his brother Jere and their parents, Jim and Marcella, own and operate the farm. Activity detection devices worn around cows' necks help to pinpoint cows in heat, resulting in reduced labor and cost. Since adoption of the system, the conception rate has risen to 54.5%, number of days open has fallen by 30, the calving interval has dropped to 12.6 months and average number of services per conception has gone from 3.4 to 2.4. A feed tracking system that adjusts daily feed usage has resulted in 100% feed consumption and $2/day/cow lower feed cost. With 630 milk cows, the rolling herd average is 26,504 lb. of milk.
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