Ian Langedijk reduces cell count by 100,000 thanks to cleaner drinking water
Dairy farmer Ian Langedijk runs his farm in Denmark with 215 dairy cows and knows from experience just how much drinking water quality affects his cows’ health. For years, he struggled with drinking troughs that quickly became contaminated and an excessively high somatic cell count. With the Watter system, he now sees significantly improved immunity, a lower somatic cell count, and fewer cases of mastitis in his herd.
Problems with drinking water and cell count
The first problems on the farm were related to current leakage in the water troughs. Once that technical issue was resolved, Ian noticed that his cows were still not drinking enough. The veterinarian pointed out water intake as a major issue and the consequences of contaminated drinking troughs.
So Ian first ran a trial period with the Watter system. The test went well, he saw improvements in somatic cell count and water quality, but he still wanted to try a less expensive alternative.
That system worked on a similar principle, but the dosage had to be increased to the maximum, and even then, the effect was insufficient. After that, he decided to purchase the Watter system permanently.
Water is the cheapest nutritional source we have. Since a cow drinks quite a lot, the water simply has to be 100% clean. It made sense to us that we should work towards this goal.
A reduction of 100,000 cells and 30% fewer cases of mastitis
In terms of health, the somatic cell count was the biggest problem for Ian. In Denmark, the somatic cell count must remain below 200,000; otherwise, your milk payments are reduced.
Since installing the Watter system, a clear improvement has been evident: the somatic cell count has consistently dropped from 350,000 to 250,000. “We’re not quite below 200,000 yet, but dropping by 100,000 cells is already a huge step forward,” says Ian.
The number of mastitis cases has also decreased. Whereas he previously had around 25 cases per year, that number now ranges between 15 and 18.
Cleaner water troughs and increased water intake
In his daily barn routine, Ian notices the biggest difference at the water troughs. The slimy layer of algae that used to keep coming back has now disappeared.
Because the water is cleaner, the cows are also drinking more. After about ten days of running the Watter system, water consumption began to rise noticeably. Ultimately, his cows are now drinking 10 to 12% more water than before.
“They’re drinking more water, and it’s simply cleaner. The cows’ overall resistance is improving,” he summarizes.
Financial impact: payback period within 1 year
Mastitis costs Ian an estimated 4,500 Danish kroner (600 euros) per case, including medication and milk that has to be discarded. Since he estimates he has about ten fewer cases of mastitis per year, that alone saves him €6,000 per year.
In addition, he faces fewer deductions from the milk price due to the lower somatic cell count. With a somatic cell count of 350,000, the deduction amounted to approximately 280,000 Danish kroner (37,500 euros) per year. Now that his count is about 100,000 cells lower, he recoups an estimated two-thirds of that deduction.
At first, my milk payment was cut significantly. Now that I can get two-thirds of it back because my somatic cell count has gone down, that Watter machine is peanuts.
The investment in the Watter system was slightly higher for Ian than some alternatives, but for Ian, the bottom line is clear: “Quality comes at a price. If you want to achieve something, you have to be willing to invest in it.”
Ian recouped his investment in the Watter system within just one year, thanks to lower deductions from his milk price and reduced mastitis costs.
The future
For the coming years, the goal remains to further lower the somatic cell count and consistently stay below the Danish standard of 200,000. That takes time, but with the Watter system, Ian has a sustainable solution that allows him to work daily on improving water quality and resilience.
“The verdict is: definitely keep going. And I can certainly recommend it to others,” he concludes.
Want to try it out for yourself?
Watter offers dairy farmers the opportunity to have a Watter system installed on-site for a five-month trial period, including microbiological guidance, a baseline measurement of water quality, and water samples taken after six weeks for comparison.