Barn Cameras Save Time and Calves

Cameras can be inexpensive, but valuable in terms of the service they provide.

Josh and Maggie Malson are part of Malson Angus & Herefords, near Parma, Idaho. A few years ago they purchased cameras to help monitor any activity in the barn.

“Even though our barn is not far away, I had to get up, get dressed and drive to the barn to check on any cows calving, but the cameras allow me to view images on my phone. I don’t have go to the barn unless there’s a reason,” Maggie explains.

“When we had the ‘snowmageddon’ in 2017, we had to put a lot of cows in the barn to calve,” she says. “Usually our cattle calve out at pasture, but that year the weather was so bad, with so much snow, we put many of them in the barn. They needed watched a lot, and we could check on them with the cameras.”

Maggie says they don’t often put cows in the barn as they prefer being outside. But when there is a cow in the barn, the cameras allow her and other family members to see what’s happening without disturbing the animal.

The cameras are mounted on different walls and rotate, so their direction can be changed with her phone. She can also zoom in on a certain view for a closer look.

“The cameras also have a microphone and sound,” says Maggie. “I can hear if a cow is calving and gently mooing.”

She considered having an outside camera also, but most of the cows calve farther away out in the pasture, she shares. “We don’t need a camera as much on the outside, but any time we have something in the barn, we can monitor and have eyes on them.”

The cameras save a lot of time, and it’s handy to see things a person might miss otherwise, like a calf coming backward, Maggie explains. “Using the app on my phone, I can zoom in on something like that, and get a closer view and have a better idea about a certain problem and whether we need to rush out there.”

Maggie Malson’s barn cameras are controlled through an app on her phone. She can change direction, zoom in and listen for calving sounds.

Many companies sell cameras, and it’s easy to shop around to see what might best fit certain needs. The Malsons started with more of a home security camera, Maggie says. “Some companies make barn camera systems, but these security cameras were very affordable and gave us something to start with and try before we invested in a bigger system.”

If a person isn’t ready to make a big investment, starting with something similar that is inexpensive to see how the cameras work and what additional features may be needed is a good route, she says. “It may also depend on where you plan to put them. These are designed for indoors; they wouldn’t withstand wet weather.”

Maggie says she knows of other ranchers who use cameras outside of the barn for checking pens. The cameras are mounted on poles with a protective cover over the top of them.

“Some people have a TV in their house where images can be viewed, but we just have them on our phones,” Maggie says. “It’s a simple system, but has worked really well. Having barn cameras has definitely saved us time, peace of mind, animals and sleep.”

Editor’s note: Heather Smith Thomas is a freelance writer and cattlewoman from Salmon, Idaho.