Forster Technik’s calf rail feeding systems are now employed by 12 dairy farms in Ontario.
North American General Manager Jan Ziemerink says not only do the machines help farmers save time, they also provide incredibly precise feedback while they feed either powder or whole milk.
“The machine keeps track of anything the calf drinks. It monitors how much they drink, the drinking speed and all that,” he says.
“All that is sent to a computer or laptop. It’s also saved up in the cloud. The data is always available at all times so we know exactly what each calf drinks and how fast they drink at any time.”
Producers worried about the spread of disease as the feeder moves down the line, Ziemerink adds his units have that covered.
Hot water cycles heat and clean the lines before and after each feeding.
A disinfectant solution is also sprayed on the nipple as the machine moves between calves.
Ziemerink also points out each machine has a text alert feature, which messages the farmer if it detects any problems.
Source: BlackburnNews
Link: http://blackburnnews.com/agrimedia/agrimedia-news/2017/01/03/farmers-turning-robotics-feed-calves/