Innovation awards announced at virtual EuroTier event
Although EuroTier was cancelled in November to be held virtually in February 2021, its innovation awards were announced at a virtual preview event.
In total, show organisers DLG presented 8 awards, including 1 gold medal and 7 silver medals from a total entry of 80 innovations.
New sensor keeps eye on correct calf milk mix
A new smart sensor that closely monitors calf milk powder mix has won a silver medal at the EuroTier preview show. Rearing calves on any farm is time consuming, especially on a dairy farm where automatic calf feeders have proved invaluable and ensure animal-friendly and needs-based calf feeding. Powdered milk, and whole milk to a lesser extent, is usually used in the automatic feeders and a combination of both is also possible.
Fluctuating dry substance contents in new powdered milk batches necessitate constant checking and adjustment of the automatic feeders’ basic settings to achieve a consistent powdered milk concentration in the feeder milk and optimum feed qualities.
In practice, this important activity is occasionally forgone due to time constraints, as the milk replacer concentration has to be adjusted manually on the automatic feeder after calibration.
However, help is now at hand from Holm & Laue with its Brix-TS Sensor, an electronic refractometer sensor that has been integrated into the mixing tank of the ‘Calf Expert’ automatic calf feeder. Here it continuously measures and monitors the dry substance content of the freshly mixed calf milk. In the event of deviations, the system automatically corrects the concentration in the feeder milk. If whole milk is used, a consistent dry substance concentration can also be ensured in the feeder milk by adding powdered milk if necessary.
Siloking introduces straw chopper for SelfLine feed mixers
During the virtual preview of EuroTier, Siloking introduced a straw chopper version for some of its feeding mixer wagons.
Livestock farmers recognise the benefits of mixing straw in feed rations either because of its structural effectiveness or because of other fodder shortages. To avoid selection during feed intake by the cattle, straw must be cut short and mixed well. Long straw can be used in the feed mixer before and during mixing of the actual ration, but this takes some time to be cut properly.
With this in mind, Siloking has introduced a straw chopper version for the SelfLine 300+, 500+ and 1000+ feeder models to ensure fast cutting of larger quantities of straw in the ration.
The family-run company is based in Bavaria, Germany and produces innovative feeding technology distributed to over 50 countries.
The product range includes trailed, self-propelled and electrically driven feed mixers from 5 to 32m³ for livestock farms, stationary mixing and dosing systems up to 80m³ for feed centres and biogas plants, as well as silage extraction and distribution machines.
The hydraulically driven straw chopper is mounted directly behind the milling head and extends over the full width of the loading chute. In chopping mode, the flow of forage is diverted to the straw chopper by a flap that swivels into the milling channel.
The rapidly rotating chopper blades beat the straw through the counter blades and feed it back, chopped into small pieces, onto the loading conveyor belt, which then transports it into the mixer. The straw chopper is operated conveniently at the touch of a button from the multifunction armrest in the cab. Mixing in of the precisely cut straw can be better dosed, it considerably reduces fodder losses through selection, saves time during loading and reduces diesel consumption through shorter mixing times. The straw chopper is mounted directly behind the milling head and cuts the straw already on its way to the mixing container.
Calf monitoring technology wins EuroTier animal welfare award
New sensor technology that can detect diseases in calves has won the Animal Welfare Award at the virtual EuroTier preview show.
As part of the EuroTier innovation awards, products that foster the exercise of species-specific behaviour patterns and positively support animal health are additionally presented with the Animal Welfare Award by the show organisers DLG together with the German Association of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (bpt). Technical solutions that lead to increased animal welfare and animal health are therefore specifically highlighted.
This time around the Animal Welfare Award 2021 is being presented to Futuro Farming GmbH, Regensburg for its Calf Monitoring System. By means of continuous calf monitoring and speedy feedback to the farmer, the system enables effective health monitoring for each individual calf in the population. The early warning system for calf diseases detects outbreaks of disease up to 3 days in advance and can be used from day one for calves kept individually. A sensor is attached to each calf igloo/box for individual housing, which records the behaviour of the calves. The sensor system sends this data to the servers, where an algorithm evaluates the calves’ data and identifies calves that are susceptible to disease.
These abnormalities are sent to the farmer’s smartphone via an app. The farmer then receives real-time notifications so that they can treat calves as early as possible.
The system for the early detection of diseases in calves is based on a precise, energy-saving, and, above all, non-invasive infrared sensor which detects the calf’s behavioural pattern.
The sensor data are promptly evaluated with AI and a prognosis for potentially developing diseases is produced. The information from the evaluation is made available to the farmer directly via an app and an online platform. Thanks to earlier treatment, the continuous monitoring of the calf and the quick provision of information to the farmer can help to make the courses of diseases milder and reduce calf mortality. By quickly treating a calf, particularly during the first few days of its life, the monitoring system can contribute directly to protecting the calf and its health and is therefore able to significantly improve animal welfare.
This innovation also won a silver medal at the event.
