Merck Expands Automated Calf Monitoring to Bucket-Fed Operations

Merck Animal Health has expanded its SenseHub Dairy Youngstock monitoring technology to bucket-fed calves, giving dairy operations another tool for automated behavioral tracking.

The company introduced the initial system in 2024 for bottle-fed young stock and has now confirmed that it can monitor behavior regardless of whether milk is delivered by bottle or bucket.

'Whether it's a bottle or a bucket, it doesn't matter,' says Dr. Jeremy Schefers, a technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health.

The system monitors activity and rumination, flagging changes from previous behavior to help producers identify animals that may be ill or responding poorly to management decisions.