Austrian manufacturer Wasserbauer, which is a pioneer in the development of feeding systems for cattle, launched its automated cover system for silage clamps, called Wicky, at EuroTier 2016, where it won a Gold Medal for innovation from the event organiser DLG (German Agricultural Society).
The system allows the clamp cover to be unwound quickly and easily at the press of a button. This saves the farmer the unwelcome and sometimes risky task of covering and uncovering the clamp by hand.
Wicky is simply placed on the cover, which is then wrapped across the full width of the machine. With radio control, Wicky can be controlled forwards and backwards. The uncovered silage can then be removed.
With Wicky, the farmer can roll up just as much of the cover as he needs for fodder, and then cover up the cut end again once the required amount has been removed – so that the silage remains stable and is protected against sun, rain and secondary fermentation. This guarantees a lasting quality of the feed and a reliable milk yield from the cows.
The system does not require complicated assembly and rails. Power is supplied using batteries that can be charged in charging stations. This also means that no trailing cables are required. The patented, intelligent modular design makes Wicky suitable for common clamp widths up to 9.0m. The machine also adapts perfectly to the height and cavities of the clamp, preventing air penetration as much as possible.
Thanks to the simple modular design, the width can easily be adapted to any clamp in 0.4m stages. To do so, simply remove or add one or multiple drive units using a splint – no tools are required. Wicky is driven using only the two outer drive units. The clever design enables smooth operation and means that no maintenance work is generally required.
“With Wicky, we’re achieving precisely what we want to achieve with all of our solutions,” the company’s owner, Frank Wasserbauer, said. “We’re making the farmer’s work noticeably easier and, at the same time, improving animal health and milk yield. And all of this without the need for gimmicks or great assembly effort.”
For more information visit: www.wasserbauer.at.
