EuroTier innovations: Progressing the dairy sector

COWTOILET
Company: Hanskamp AgroTech BV
The reduction of emissions from animal production is becoming increasingly important. A high volume of ammonia is generated in a comparatively short time from the 15–20 litres of urine that a cow produces each day. The CowToilet developed by Hanskamp consists of a feeding station and a collection facility for the urine. At the end of feed output, an external stimulus is used to trigger the urination reflex and the urine is collected. The CowToilet collects the urine directly and separately from the cow without causing stress to the animal. The formation of ammonia on the floors is reduced thanks to the early separation of faeces and urine. The floors also remain cleaner, which has a positive impact on both hoof health and air quality in the animal housing. In addition, the farmer can use the separately collected faeces and urine in a targeted way in either crop production or power generation, which further increases nutrient efficiency.

REDUCING THE MICROBIAL LOAD IN CALF FEEDING
By Urban GmbH & Co. KG
The Alma Pro Hygieneset from Urban GmbH is an innovative use of well-proven UV-C irradiation to reduce the microbial load in calf feeding. Specific UV-C irradiation at relevant hygiene points of the automatic calf feeder is intended to lead to significant improvements. Besides the UV-C irradiation of the boiler water, the additional, monitored irradiation of the teat represents a vast improvement. In short feeding breaks between the individual calves, the teat and the adjacent contact surfaces are irradiated, thus killing a multitude of pathogens during operation. The risk of microbial transfer by the calves is also reduced.

ELECTRONIC REFRACTOMETER SENSOR
By Holm & Laue GmbH & Co. KG
The Brix-TS Sensor is an electronic refractometer sensor that has been integrated into the mixing tank of the Calf Expert automatic calf feeder, where 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. With the Brix-TS Sensor, Holm & Laue is therefore launching a technical solution onto the market that can guarantee continuously consistent calf feed.

FAECES AND URINE SOLUTION
By Bioret Agri Logette Confort
The formation of ammonia on the floors can be reduced through the early separation of faeces and urine. With the Delta X Pack, French company Bioret has further developed a noteworthy product, which enables faeces and urine on the floors of dairy cattle sheds to be collected automatically, quickly and easily and then transferred to separate storage areas. To accomplish this, a contra-rotating conveyor belt system has been integrated into a rubber mat system with a 3% gradient. The belt system diverts the urine collected in the central gutter to the liquid store and the animals’ faeces to the solid material store. The separation of faeces and urine is fast and effective.

CALF MONITORING SYSTEM
By Futuro Farming GmbH
The Animal Welfare Award 2021 was presented for the Calf Monitoring System from Futuro Farming GmbH, Regensburg. 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 Calf Monitoring System is a precise, energy-saving and non-invasive sensor system that offers early disease detection in calves. A passive infrared sensor is used to observe the calf’s behavioural pattern and the data is promptly evaluated using AI. The information is made available to the farmer directly via an app and an online platform, therefore enabling the calf’s health to be monitored continuously.

PRECISE SPREADING OF LIQUID MANURE
By Möscha GbR
The Möscha Spreader boom, with plastic pipe as a supporting construction element, is characterised by its simple and extremely lightweight design. Möscha achieves lighter boom weights by using covered plastic pipes instead of a design using only metal. Development of the product to use alternative materials significantly reduces the weight of the folding boom. Precisely spreading liquid manure close to the ground with a drag hose or drag shoe attached to corresponding boom technology can also be achieved using lighter trailers that require less tractive power and on more extensively contoured terrain.

BIOTIN IN A RUMEN-PROTECTED FORM
By Bewital Agri GmbH & Co. KG
Bewi-Fatrix Biotin offers a highly effective biotin in a rumen-protected form. Biotin plays a key role in energy metabolism (milk production) and in maintaining the strength of the hoof horn. Only in a rumen-protected form will biotin reach the dairy cow’s metabolism without major losses in the rumen. The coating is based on European raw materials, so this product is suitable for use in most dairy quality programmes. By matrix encapsulation via cryotechnology, Bewi-Fatrix Biotin protects the contained biotin against early rumen degradation. This ensures that sufficient amounts of biotin are effectively provided in the dairy cow’s metabolism.

STRAW CHOPPER
By Siloking
For fast cutting of larger quantities of straw in the ration, Siloking now offers the straw chopper version for the SelfLine 300+, 500+ and 1000+ models. 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. Mixing in of the precisely cut straw can be better dosed, considerably reduces fodder losses through selection, saves time during loading and reduces diesel consumption through shorter mixing times.

INCREASE FEED EFFICIENCY
By Berg + Schmidt
Berg + Schmidt presents feed ingredients that have a positive effect on the immune system and performance of all animal species, from aquacultures and poultry to pigs and cattle.
BergaFat increases milk yield with optimised nutrient intake. Freshly milking, high-performance cows expend more energy through milk production than they can consume through feed. Feed fats provide an additional energy supply more than twice that of carbohydrates. Using proprietary technology, palm oils are physically fractionated. This allows separation into unsaturated and high-melting saturated fat fractions, without the usual hydrogenation process. BergaFat is free of trans fatty acids that are formed during the hydrogenation process. BergaFat powders are naturally rumen-stable and reach the small intestine unchanged, where they are easily digested.
LipoVitalsupports intestinal health and resistance and lecithinis an essential nutrient for metabolism and the immune system. Berg + Schmidt’s special technology provides natural fats and oils that are easy to process and offer highly functional added value.