At James Road Dairy in Rochester, Washington, owner Hank Doelman uses technology and practical herd management to keep cows healthy, productive, and out of the sick pen. With 24 Lely robots milking approximately 1,450 cows, real-time data plays a key role in the dairy’s daily decision-making.

“With robots, you get a lot of information,” Hank explains. “I didn’t want to have a big sick pen. I wanted to keep cows in their own pen whenever possible.”

The robotic system continuously tracks important indicators such as conductivity, somatic cell count (SCC), rumination, eating time, and milk production. These insights allow Hank and his team to identify cows that may need additional support before issues escalate.

Turning Data Into Action

After learning about AHV, Hank began using products such as Extra, Aspi, Quick, and Booster as part of his herd health protocols.

One of the benefits he values most is the ability to monitor cows directly from the herd management system.

“I could watch the cow from my office and see how she was doing. I could watch the cud chewing, watch her come back to life, and see production improve.”

Rather than moving cows into a separate treatment group, Hank can often keep them in their home pen while monitoring their progress through the robot data.

A Simple Udder Health Protocol

When cows show elevated conductivity or increased SCC, Hank typically starts with Extra and Aspi. If cows experience a significant drop in rumination or feed intake, he may also add Quick and Booster.

Recovery can often be followed through the data generated by the robots.

“You can see the curve go back up, and once she starts eating and ruminating again, the battle is won.”

According to Hank, improvements are frequently visible within one to two days.

Reducing Labor and Sick Pen Management

Today, very few cows at James Road Dairy require placement in the sick pen.

“At the moment, we don’t have very many cows in the sick pen at all,” says Hank.

For a robotic dairy, this saves valuable labor. Employees can simply administer products according to protocol without the extra work of moving, monitoring, and managing large numbers of cows in separate facilities.

“I can just give my employees a list of cows to give a couple pills. It’s pretty easy.”

Supporting Fresh Cows

Beyond udder health, James Road Dairy also uses AHV Metri and the Milk Start Bolus as part of its fresh cow program.

“Metri is a big help. It makes a big difference in our reproduction.”

“The vet has commented several times that he really doesn’t see cows with metritis or bad uterine discharge. Very, very few.”

Hank notes that even his veterinarian has observed fewer fresh cow challenges.

The Importance of Managing Inflammation

Inflammation management is another key component of James Road Dairy’s protocol.

“If you have a cow with a mastitis infection, that udder is inflamed,” says Hank. “For everything to work well, you need to deal with the inflammation.”

For this reason, AHV Aspi is routinely included as part of his support protocol, particularly in cows experiencing more severe challenges.

By monitoring feed intake and rumination data, the team can evaluate how cows respond and determine whether additional support is needed.

A Trusted Partnership

Hank also appreciates the ongoing support from AHV, including regular protocol reviews, inventory management, and follow-up visits.

“They check protocols, see if it makes a difference, and see how we’re doing. That’s added value from the company.”

When asked which products have had the biggest impact on his dairy, Hank’s answer is simple:

“If you ask me what the best products are, I’d say Extra and Metri. As far as I’m concerned, those are the top two.”

Hank uses the following AHV products: