Förster-Technik won a DLG (German Agricultural Society) Gold Medal for innovation at EuroTier 2017 for its Smart Calf System that’s designed to achieve optimum results in rearing young calves.
The wellbeing and health of calves are of critical importance for the effectiveness of milk production, as the development of the animals in the first weeks of their lives has a lasting impact on realisation of the genetically predisposed yield potential.
The system, which also has new automatic feeders, means that animal health is monitored more intensively. Moreover, new tools for the organisation, implementation and documentation of workflows in calf rearing have been introduced. This data flow is stored on the internet in the company’s so-called “CalfCloud”, where clear reports can be accessed.
Another new feature is sending messages relating to the status of the animals or automatic feeders to smartphones. For example, a level indicator sensor located on the powder hopper detects when milk powder has to be refilled, and sends this information directly to the user.
The Smart Calf System is made up of the Smart Drink Station, Smart Neckband,and Smart Water Station modules.
Smart Drink Station (pictured top) is an advanced version of a feeding station linked to the Förster-Technik automatic feeders. The teat is movable and for the first time spring mounted. This enables the calf to execute its natural suckling action as it would on a cow which is an indicator of calf’s vitality. These movements are recorded electronically during suckling via acceleration sensors and transmitted to the automatic feeder.
Combined with other data determined in the Smart Calf System, this provides valuable insights into the animal’s health and development. As an additional smart feature of the new feeding station a temperature sensor is integrated directly on the teat. Thus, too-cold or too-hot portions can be prevented.
Automatic cleaning of the suction hose is provided, too. This is achieved via a switch valve directly on the teat. Thus, no uncleaned spots remain in the milk line, and no milk must be pumped in a circle. The new Smart Drink Station is also available for folding up. Especially with all-in/all-out housing systems this function saves labor because the manure removal by means of a front loader is facilitated.
Smart Neckband is a fitness collar for calves
Förster-Technik’s highly innovative electronic collars have a radio link to the automatic feeder or via an internet gateway to the cloud. Together with the Smart Drink Station and the automatic feeders, they enable automated monitoring of the health and development of the calves. An indicator LED and a feedback button on the collar allow simple and effective workflows.
An acceleration sensor continuously records the calf’s activity. This is combined with the data from the automatic feeders and the acceleration data of the teat in the Smart Drink Station to enable conclusions about the health and development state of each animal.
An LED light on top of the neck section can be controlled by the system and provides the farmer with access to variable information directly on the animal. For example, this allows alarm animals, animals with an increased risk of illness, or animals for treatment to be easily identified by lighting of the LEDs.
The system is also suitable for easy search of individual animals in the group, by selecting the number of the animal on the Förster-Technik CalfApp, the LED light on the Neckband will illuminate.
Performance of control or treatment measures can be confirmed using a magnetic switch directly on the neckband. The confirmation is sent back by radio. This ensures immediate and error-free documentation without any additional work. The collars can be used for new calves repeatedly; the battery may be changed by the user.
The Smart Water Station is a waterer with electronic animal detection and water measurement, which determines the water amount consumed and the drinking speed for each animal.
These indicators provide information about possible risks of illness and also the development of the forestomach. This enables individual animals to be weaned according to their solid feed intake. The function is also useful for the time after weaning.
Possible integration of animal scales offers further opportunities for automated health and development monitoring in the period up to the first insemination, witthat data also transmitted to the CalfCloud for analysis.
For more information visit: www.foerster-technik.de.
