Jach Farms Embraces Technology to Support Cow Welfare and
Farm Efficiency

At Jach Farms in Morton Mains, Southland, owners Craig and Heidi Williams run a well established dairy operation built on efficiency, good people, and a willingness to embrace technology.

The 195-hectare farm, which is predominantly flat, milks 630 Friesian and crossbreed cows through a modern 54-bail rotary cowshed, installed just four years ago. Craig works alongside three long-standing full-time staff, creating a stable and experienced team.

The farm operates a System 3 production model, with cows milked through until the end of June. Cows are progressively dried off in groups based on calving date, aiming for a 60-day dry period. A barn is used during June to continue milking later-calving cows and to manage cows being held over.

A Long History with Cow Monitoring

Technology has been part of the Williams’ farming approach for many years. Craig first installed DataFlow II back in 2000, initially to help manage the pressure of the mating period and reduce the workload associated with heat detection. “It took about a full season to really get into the collars and learn to trust the system,”
Craig says.

“It took about a full season to really get into the collars and learn to trust the system”

That trust developed quickly. After the first season using collars, Craig stopped using bulls altogether, relying fully on the technology to identify cows on heat. In July 2025, the farm transitioned to SenseHub® Dairy, bringing their monitoring technology up to date.

Craig says the upgrade has made accessing and interpreting information much easier. “All the information is in there – it’s just easier to find and look at.” One of the biggest improvements has been the heat and health graphs, which Craig
says provide clearer insights into what is happening with each cow.

Turning Data into Daily Decisions

While the system was initially installed for mating, Craig now uses it far more broadly across the farm. He regularly checks rumination data to support decision-making around cow health and management. The collars have also had a noticeable impact on workload.

The entire team is comfortable using the system, and even more so since the move to SenseHub Dairy. Integration with MINDA has also improved workflow.

“Using the collars has freed up time to focus on other things and general wellbeing. We’ve got a tail-paint-free cowshed.”

“We’ve got a tail-paint-free cowshed”

“The information is more live now. You’re not waiting on data entry or doing double data entry.”

Real-Time Alerts Make a Difference

One feature Craig highlights are the distress notifications, which alert staff to potential animal issues during the season. “The distress notifications throughout the season are a game changer because it means staff can all be onto it.” Having real-time alerts allows the team to respond quickly to issues, improving both efficiency and animal care.

Benefits for the Cows

For Craig, one of the biggest advantages of monitoring technology is the impact on cow welfare. With access to detailed health and behaviour data, the team can make better informed decisions about each animal. “It’s probably benefitted the cows as much as it has us with the information the collars give us.”

Craig believes the system has contributed to improved longevity in the herd, thanks to earlier identification of potential health issues and better overall monitoring. He has also noticed fewer short returns during mating, reducing the guesswork that traditionally comes with heat detection. “The mating side is pretty accurate – it really takes the guesswork out of it.”

Ongoing Support and Looking Ahead

Craig says the support behind the system has been just as important as the technology itself. “The aftersales support has been tremendous right the way through.” He also values the different learning resources available, including the SenseHub Dairy manual, SenseHub Dairy Academy, and the help icons throughout the system, which make it easy to access information when needed.

With technology evolving quickly in the dairy industry, Craig is already considering additional options for the cowshed in the future. “Technology has come in leaps and bounds over the years, and it’s exciting to see what’s coming next.”

Advice for Other Farmers

For farmers considering monitoring technology, Craig has simple advice:

And his biggest recommendation?