276 | Next-level Lameness Detection: Beyond the Human Eye
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Greg Kowalewski, manager of Aurora Oakwood Dairy in New York, to discuss how AI technology is transforming dairy management. They discuss the implementation of Nedap's SmartSight technology for early lameness detection, which allows the farm to identify and treat cow lameness before it becomes severe, thus improving animal welfare and operational efficiency.
Greg shares his journey from growing up working on his uncle's farm to becoming a manager and a proponent of cutting-edge technology. They also delve into how this AI system fits into the broader goals of the dairy and its co-op, Cayuga Milk Ingredients, which markets its milk globally. The conversation covers Greg’s management philosophy, the integration of technology into daily farm operations, and his vision for the future of dairy farming.
About Nedap
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, and identification.
Follow for more episodes in this series throughout 2025!
00:00 Introduction to Next-Level Dairy Management
00:41 Meet Greg Kowalewski: From Herdsman to Manager
02:39 The Role of Technology in Modern Dairy Farming
04:25 Implementing Lameness Monitoring Technology
08:11 Results and Benefits of Early Detection
15:13 Management Philosophy and Team Dynamics
19:37 Future Goals and Innovations
23:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
