Fully automatic barn control during calving – protected calves without nighttime call-outs.
Lock SmartCalving translates digital animal signals – such as the calving alert from the smaXtec bolus with the intelligent SBE Farmmangement-System – directly into automatic control of fans, gates, and curtains. For an optimal microclimate in the calving pen – without any manual intervention.
HOW IT WORKS
Why conventional calving management reaches its limits
Calving is one of the most critical moments on a dairy farm. In this phase, animal welfare, workload, and time pressure all come together at once. Without automated processes, farmers have to monitor the calving area closely and react at the right moment – often at night.
The Lock SmartCalving module: where barn climate and animal health go hand in hand.
The Lock SmartCalving module connects two worlds that were previously separate: smaXtec’s precise animal health monitoring and the intelligent building climate control of Lock SmartSolutions with the SBE Farm Management app.
By automatically linking the smaXtec calving alert with the SBE Farm Management app from Lock SmartSolutions, the fans, gates, and curtains in the calving area are controlled fully automatically.
The result: a protected calving area at exactly the right moment – without any manual intervention.
1. Detection by the smaXtec bolus
The rumen bolus detects the drop in the cow’s core body temperature and, using AI, triggers the calving alert approximately 10 to 15 hours before birth.
2. Signal relay & delay time
The alert signal is transmitted to the Lock SBE Farmmangement system and starts an individually configured delay time (typically 10–14 hours).
3. Automatic closing of the elements
Once the delay time has elapsed, the SmartCalving module checks the wind and climate readings and closes gates and curtains in the calving area to specifically guard against drafts and cold.
4. Relaxed monitoring via smartphone
You receive a push notification and can keep an eye on everything remotely – without a nighttime trip to the barn.
5. Return to automatic mode
As soon as the completed birth is confirmed in the smaXtec app, the Lock system automatically returns to normal climate operation.
Maximum relief in daily work. The best possible start for every calf.
The Lock SmartCalving module combines work efficiency with state-of-the-art calf protection – for more peace of mind on the farm and healthier animals.
Effective protection against hypothermia & illness
Targeted climate adjustment
Calves are born with a body temperature of approx. 38.5–39 °C and are extremely sensitive to cold and drafts.
Fewer losses
Automatically closing gates and curtains and switching off fans protects the newborn immediately from cooling down. This dramatically reduces the risk of infection in the first hours of life and safeguards future performance potential.
Noticeable time savings & undisturbed sleep
No more nighttime checks
The manual effort of adjusting fans, gates, and curtains – especially in wind and weather in the middle of the night – is eliminated entirely.
Full control via smartphone
Get push notifications straight to your phone. You only need to step in when the actual birth is imminent or assistance is required.
A stress-free environment for the cow
A natural birth process
A calm, draft-free calving pen creates optimal conditions for the mother cow.
An undisturbed process
Less disturbance from manual interventions in the barn supports a natural, stress-free birth.
Pinpoint, farm-specific timing
No rigid automation
Thanks to the freely adjustable delay time (0–36 hours), the closing sequence adapts exactly to the workflows and distances on your farm.
Weather-driven precision
The elements close only when wind direction and cold actually make it necessary in the calving area.
Experiences from the field
With Lock SmartCalving, I have the advantage that when a calving signal comes in – especially in the evening – I no longer have to make a special trip up to the barn. Both systems work together fully automatically, which saves me a lot of extra work while keeping the calf safely protected.
Martin Kleiner
Twice honored for genuine innovation in the barn.
The Lock SmartCalving module impresses experts and the jury alike: the highest standards in calf protection meet forward-looking technology.
Animal Welfare Award
Honored for the targeted protection of newborns from hypothermia and drafts, as well as the noticeable reduction of stress in the calving area.
EuroTier Innovation Award
Honored as a world first for the first direct link between bolus-based animal sensor technology and automated barn control.
Requirements for SmartCalving
For the Lock SmartCalving module to control the barn fully automatically, two components work seamlessly together:
On the Lock side (building control & climate)
- Lock SmartCalving module:
An installed extension in Lock’s SBE Farm Management system. - Controlled actuators:
Gates, curtains, and fans in the calving area. - Active interface:
Interface connection for automatic signal transfer between smaXtec and Lock SmartSolutions. - Service setup:
Initial configuration and the setting of the farm-specific delay time are handled by the Lock SmartSolutions team.
On the partner side (animal sensor technology / smaXtec)
- Active smaXtec bolus:
Administered into the reticulum at least 3 weeks before the expected calving date. - Registered calving date:
The correct expected calving date stored in the smaXtec system (or captured automatically via a registered insemination). - Healthy animals:
The cow must be healthy during the dry period (temperature drops caused by illness can distort the signal).
You don’t have to worry about the technical integration. The Lock SmartSolutions team guides you step by step through the design, setup, and fine-tuning of the delay times for your farm.
FAQ
Yes, absolutely. The SmartCalving module is designed as a functional extension for existing Lock SmartSolutions barn controls. The Lock SmartSolutions team sets up the interface and links the relevant gates and curtains in your calving area.
No. The Lock SmartCalving module acts very intelligently and takes real climate parameters such as wind direction and outside temperature into account. After the delay time has elapsed, gates and curtains close only when wind or cold in the calving area actually pose a risk to the newborn.
The AI-based smaXtec calving alert typically arrives 10 to 15 hours before the actual birth. Closing the gates immediately would restrict the barn climate for an unnecessarily long time. Thanks to the farm-specific, adjustable delay time (typically 10–14 hours), the gates and curtains close precisely, only shortly before the birth.
Yes, you always stay in full control. If you want to step in spontaneously, you can operate the actuators around the calving pen at any time, either manually or conveniently via the smartphone app.
As soon as the calving signal arrives and the system starts the sequence, you are notified by a push notification on your smartphone. You can monitor what’s happening in the calving area remotely or via a barn camera – without having to go to the barn at night.
As soon as you confirm the successful calving in the smaXtec app, the signal ends. The Lock SmartCalving module detects this automatically and returns the gates and curtains seamlessly to regular automatic climate operation.
The Lock SmartSolutions team takes care of this entirely. We set up the connection between smaXtec and Lock SmartSolutions for you and work with you to determine the optimal delay time for your farm.
Ready for automatic calving control in your barn?
Get free, no-obligation advice from our experts. Together we’ll check the requirements for your farm and show you how the Lock SmartCalving module can be integrated optimally into your existing barn control.
All-round service from the Lock SmartSolutions team
- Personal support:
The Lock SmartSolutions team handles the initial configuration and activates the interface. - Individual fine-tuning:
Together we determine the perfect delay time (e.g. 10–14 hours) to match your barn workflows and conditions.