Latest tech and equipment unveiled ahead of EuroTier 22
It’s been a sparse time in recent years when it comes to global agricultural and machinery events, but it’s all systems go for the world’s leading livestock trade fair, as EuroTier makes a welcome return to Hanover in Germany this November after being cancelled due to COVID-19.
Held every two years, EuroTier attracts more than 150,000 visitors from around the world, arriving to see the latest innovations dedicated to livestock husbandry and welfare.
The 2020 event had to be cancelled due to the pandemic but organisers DLG say it has prepared quite a comeback event to ensure livestock farmers are kept at the forefront of new product development. Albeit lower than normal, there will be 1700 exhibitors from 55 countries attending EuroTier this time around in Hanover from 15 to 18 November.
As well as taking in all the latest livestock machinery, technology and advice, visitors will also be able to attend a number of expert forums to hear the latest on livestock production trends and future aspirations for the industry. In the build-up to the big event, the DLG has made four gold medal awards and 14 silver medal awards presented for new products that have impressed independent judges.
Plus, a number of companies have revealed their new products ahead of the show, as well as carefully hinting that more surprises will be unveiled on show day.
Gold medal awards
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica – Soundtalks
Dutch company Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica won gold for its SoundTalks system that continuously analyses the respiratory health status of pigs during rearing and fattening.
The monitors installed in the pens, each of which is equipped with six microphones, register all noises and are able to distinguish coughing noises from other noises with the aid of an algorithm.
Since the system records 24 hours a day, it is also able to register the intensity
of coughing during the resting phase.
It can then indicate the problem to the farmer via a traffic light system directly in the pen or by means of an app on the smartphone.
GEA AutoDry
Dairy equipment specialist GEA won gold for its AutoDry system of naturally drying cows off while reducing the use of antibiotics at the same time.
The AutoDry management software system has been developed initially for conventional milking systems. Current developments are ongoing to make it ready for robotic milking sometime in the future.
It can be activated for individual cows and prepares them gently and effectively for drying off. AutoDry introduces automatic milking cluster removal after reaching a pre-defined target milk volume. AutoDry starts around 10 days before drying off, and gradually reduces milk production each additional day prior to drying off using a patented algorithm.
Siliconform Stimulor StressLess
Cows with large teats often suffer stress when teat cup liners are too tight when milking. Thanks to its wave-shaped design, the Stimulor StressLess from Siliconform enables teats of different sizes to be milked using the same teat cup liner.
The new, wave-shaped design of the lip responds to the difference in pressure in the teat cup liner and allows outside air to flow in to equalise it if necessary. This prevents an excessively high head vacuum, delays teat cup ascent, and reduces tissue stress.
In the same way, the wave-shaped structure regulates or closes again at the right point in time and keeps the head vacuum stable at an ideal level in order to hold the cup on the udder. This prevents undesired air ingress or the cups from falling off.
Wasserbauer Active Cleaner
The Active Cleaner cleaning robot from Wasserbauer GmbH is a fully automated system based on AI technology. The camera-guided technology analyses the collected data in
real time and detects the manure material to be removed.
Once the device has detected multiple piles of manure, it automatically computes the optimum route, collects the material fully automatically, evaluates the size and quantity, and unloads the manure again in an appropriate location.
Some of the Silver Medal Awards
Vilofoss CareFoss E-Force
The Carefoss E-Force is a supplementary feed formulated to optimise the supply of vitamin E in calves. RRR-tocopherol sheathed with lecithin to offer good oxidation protection is used as a source of vitamin E rather than the usual tocopherol acetate, because it is more readily absorbed.
Published scientific studies show that CareFoss E-Force can significantly increase the plasma vitamin E level of calves during and after weaning. The lower plasma amyloid and cortisol values also indicate a reduced stress and inflammation level.
DSM Nutritional Products – Bovaer
Bovaer is a preparation consisting of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NOP), which has been approved as a feed additive in feeds for dairy cows and cows that helps reduce methane. The effect of the newly developed molecule 3NOP in reducing methane formation in the rumen was confirmed during the approval process.
Specifically, 3NOP inactivates the methyl-coenzyme M reductase, which catalyses the final step of methanogenesis. In the rumen, the molecule itself is metabolised to form 1,3-propanediol, nitrate and nitrite, and has no disadvantageous effects on the health of the animals, consumer safety or the environment.
Hanskamp AgroTech BeddingCleaner
Pulled by a tractor, the BeddingCleaner cleans the bedding from cow barns when required. The bedding material is sieved using a sieve mat. After this, the bedding that’s not contaminated drops back into the stable. Conversely, a small amount of the bedding material sticks to the settled faeces, with the result that it can be easily collected by the mounting and transported into the integrated storage bunker.
Bedding material subsequently remains cleaner and drier and can be used for longer periods.
Holscher + Leuschner optiMarker
The optiMarker is a marking station with an optical scale for fattening pigs. A new, innovative 3D camera is used to precisely determine the animals’ weight, and the animals are automatically marked with spray paint on reaching certain threshold values.
The optical and marking units are small and portable and can be inserted into simple brackets in different pens as required. This use in multiple pens also enables the compilation of groups from various pens. The measurements can additionally be stored in a central database during fattening to enable information concerning the fattening performance of individual animals (with an optional RFID antenna) or the group to be provided.
Forster Technik Clean and Fill Station
Cleaning out large milk feeders can be a laborious task but the Clean and Fill Station from Forster Technik makes the task easier. It enables the mobile milk tank to be connected using just a few manual steps in order to clean it. The cleaning program runs fully automatically and cleans all surfaces as well as sensitive areas.
Another innovation is the fact that the tank is automatically refilled with water at the required point in time via the set program and is heated to the specified drinker temperature. This means that the farmer then only has to add the required quantity of milk substitute and the calf drinker is ready for use.
Cowhouse International Dreamstall
Adding comfort to cow housing, the Dreamstall cubicle bar enables the cows to stand virtually freely in the cubicles and to move more naturally. The special feature of this is that this cubicle design forgoes the classic neck tube and the conventional, classic dividing bars.
The neck tube is replaced by the two flexible, spherical bodies that guide the standing cow’s shoulder area. This enables the cow to stand freely in a ‘gap’ and with her head raised even in the cubicle. The conventional dividing bars are replaced by two horizontal, flexible guide frames that guide the standing cow to a central standing position.
Schauer Agrotronic Strohmatic Air ASD
The Strohmatic Air ASD is a fully automatic littering system that uniformly distributes de-dusted straw in the poultry house. This system is particularly suitable for turkey houses. It enables targeted littering that also can be automatically controlled, with flexibility in terms of the time and quantity using a day program.
By not using a tractor and litter spreader, this method of introducing disease-causing pathogens is eliminated. This significantly improves hygiene and reduces the spread of histomoniasis, thanks to daily re-littering.
Weda Dry.Sec
Feeding an insect-based ration to animals can be a challenge on equipment, as the consistency is difficult to transport.
For example, the black soldier fly is provided with a feed substrate consisting of various by-products, such as varieties of fruit and vegetables, which are crushed and ground to a size of less than 3mm. The resulting feed mash is highly liquid and is subsequently supplemented with cereal bran to obtain an optimum content of around 30% dry matter.
Due to the feed pressure in the pipes as well as feed delivery, it’s technically impossible to feed a dry matter mixture with 30% dry matter in minute quantities.
The Weda Dry.Sec now enables this manual work to be carried out automatically with the support of a computer. Feeding errors, such as the mix being too thin, in which the larvae drown, or an excessively dry feed mash, due to which the larvae are unable to create air tubes or collapse and the animals suffocate, are therefore minimised.
Lakto Hayvancilik Laktowash
Laktowash is a cleaning unit for mobile bucket milking systems that thoroughly cleans all surfaces that the milk comes into contact with. For cleaning, the mobile milking unit is connected to Laktowash using a simple adapter over the bucket lid. The vacuum pump fitted in the milking unit ensures the required turbulence while Laktowash runs through a pre-specified cleaning and disinfection cycle with corresponding standards, thus ensuring that the milking cluster and milk can are cleaned to a high level. At the end of each washing process, Laktowash collects the remaining fluid in the bucket and pumps it away.
New feed additive
Oregano oil specially formulated for dairy cows
Dostofarm’s new product Dosto Ruminant bi-active is a coordinated combination of rumen-available and rumen-protected oregano oil, available as a premix for use in mineral and compound feeds.
Essential oregano oil has long been known for its appetite-stimulating effect, which increases roughage intake, but also for additional effects such as stimulating rumination activity, increasing milk yield and milk constituents by, among other things, positively influencing the rumen flora.
Significant positive effects on metabolic disorders, udder health, and somatic cell counts have also been demonstrated in scientific trials and in the first practical farms.
The new combination of rumen-available and rumen-protected oregano oil is also available as Dosto TMR bi-active as a supplementary feed. It’s used directly into the TMR at 50g per animal per day.
Latest equipment
GEA DairyFeed F4500 autonomous feeding robot
GEA is launching its DairyFeed F4500 feeding robot at EuroTier to help dairy farms reduce their carbon footprint and operating costs.
The new feeder operates on sensor technology and can handle herds of up to 300 cows. It runs purely on electricity and can be recharged using renewable energies.
No major reconstruction on the farm is needed for installing it, and the feed bunkers can also be easily positioned as required. The installation of the GEA DairyFeed F4500 also includes the automatic mapping of the farm with the help of laser scanners, including the definition of reference points and the driving route.
Once the bunkers have been filled appropriately, the robot accurately weighs the optimum mix for each group of animals including additives, blends them, and feeds them at the desired times. The robot is linked to the GEA DairyNet herd management system and can be monitored and controlled from mobile devices in real time.
Faresin introduces new Leader PF3 self-propelled mixer wagon
Italian Faresin Industries is introducing its new three-auger mixer wagon designed for large livestock farms from 1000 head upwards.
The wagon is available with 30 and 36 cubic metre capacities and three steered axles. The front and rear drive axles are permanent four-wheel drive, and the servo-hydraulic steering on all axles are critical elements that reduce manoeuvring space even in small barns.
Mixing and feeding can be carried out automatically as the new system interconnects all the devices of the machine and makes it possible, starting from the recipe, to program all its activities according to the raw materials that are gradually loaded.
New Trioliet Triotrac M1 1700
Trioliet will launch its Triotrac M compact self-propelled feeder models available in two sizes, 14 and 17 cubic metres. A small turning circle paired with
four-wheel steering makes the Triotrac
M especially easy to manoeuvre between buildings and within silage pits. It can extract silage at heights of up to
4.5 metres.
The Triotrac M can also process round or square bales, loose by-products, mineral feed, and even fodder beet or potatoes with ease. The spacious cab height can be adjusted to ensure it’s always optimal. The joystick in the armrest is used to control the machine. All settings for loading, mixing, and discharging the feed can be adjusted with the joystick.
The diesel engine is located at the rear of the machine, ensuring it’s easily accessible and is quiet from the cab.
The Triotrac M can be fitted with a cross conveyor belt at the rear (AL) or discharge doors on both sides (ZK). A cross conveyor chain and an extension chain are also available to order for the AL machine.
Schäffer updates loaders for EuroTier
German manufacturer Schäffer is launching the successor to its 2028 loader as well as further options for its 6680 T and 9660 T models at the forthcoming EuroTier show.
The telescopic wheel loader 6680 T is now available with a 40km/h transmission and the 9660 T boasts a new and more powerful Deutz engine.
The yard loader 2028-2 has a new electronic transmission and Schäffer Power Transmission (SPT) that makes the machine even more agile and boosts its thrust by 45%.
Another plus point is the optional cruise control, which maintains the selected forward speed automatically, irrespective of the current engine speed. The 6680 T is a six-tonne machine that can lift the load to a height of 4.95 metres and travels at up to 40km/h. With new and high-pressure components, the thrust has been boosted by 13%, while the overall machine efficiency has increased by eight percent for further reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. The high-speed version features the electronic SPT ground drive and the ecoMode as standard specification.
The new flagship in the Schäffer programme is the 9660 T-2. This 13-tonne heavy-weight is now powered by a Deutz TCD 5.2 engine of either 130kW (177hp) or 150kW (204hp).
This powerhouse makes the 9660 T-2 the world’s heaviest and most powerful telescopic wheel loader, courtesy of its huge thrust and lift capacity of up to 5.3 tonnes and a lift height of 6.10 metres.
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