With a series of optimizations, GEA is launching a new generation of the DairyRobot R9500 and DairyProQ automatic milking systems, which bring significant enhancements to the milking technology module, the In-Liner Everything milking process, and the MilkRack milking unit, among other benefits. A new service concept also ensures improved serviceability, lower maintenance costs, and minimized system downtimes.

Rounding off the new-generation systems is a comprehensive software package to optimize the milking process. All in all, dairy farms benefit from increased availability, more milkings and milk per day, and reduced operating costs of up to 35% compared to the predecessor model, for greater profitability. For existing DairyRobot R9500 or Monobox and DairyProQ systems, appropriate upgrade packages can be purchased to take advantage of the new features.

Innovations in the milking process come with economic and ecological benefits

The proven In-Liner Everything technology performs every step of the milking process – stimulation, cleaning/pre-dipping, pre-milking, milking, and dipping – in just one single procedure. The dipping agent in the In-Liner Everything process is applied to both the teat cup and teat, which means the teat rubber surface is also wetted. As a result, the dipping agent disinfects the teat skin as well as the teat cup. This can eliminate the need for intermediate disinfection with peracetic acid. In the following, the camera and teat cup are now cleaned in parallel. These process improvements not only shorten the box time for more milkings per day but also protect the environment and reduce operating costs.

New separation mode saves time and resources

With the new software package 1.5, GEA brings another important innovation to the DairyRobot R9500: with just one click in the MView control, a convenient separation mode is activated. This allows animals whose milk is being separated to be milked as a group without intermediate rinsing or cleaning after each individual cow. This saves time and significantly reduces water, detergent, and energy consumption. It also means that milking systems are ready for use again more quickly for the following cows.

Optimized service for maximum availability and greater durability of materials

For the new generation of automatic milking systems, GEA has fundamentally revised the regular service intervals and service packages. Longer-lasting materials and extended service intervals result in significantly lower service costs.

In addition, the milking technology modules have been improved. With the milking technology modules, which contain the sensors for milk analysis and metering, GEA’s Automatic Milking Systems follow a unique service concept and are far ahead of other systems. Optimized technical components in these modules now ensure significantly longer service life. Their design has also been redesigned: Improvements in the extended installation space allow better accessibility to the module components and faster replacement of control service parts for continued milking and minimized downtime.

The new generation milking systems also feature an optimized MilkRack: new cup segments increase the service life of the round belts and enable the cleaning position to be adjusted with less maintenance. And thanks to fewer gaps, the MilkRack is now less susceptible to contamination.

Future-proof and flexible

Up to four milking robots can be connected to the supply unit of the DairyRobot R9500. This not only enhances the energy efficiency of the operation but also provides sufficient flexibility for future expansion. Optional empty space modules have been developed accordingly for the DairyProQ milking carousel. These can be used to reduce investment costs and increase throughput capacity at the appropriate time by retrofitting additional milking parlor modules.

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For farm managers, it’s not just low milk prices and high feed costs causing headaches. Today’s landscape is challenging on a whole new level, demanding new skills along with new levels of efficiency. To meet the challenge – to manage the complexity, keep their operations profitable, and fulfill the growing list of requirements and demands – farmers are turning to smart technologies for help. And it’s making a difference.

The post How Smart Technologies Contribute to Happy Cows and Sustainable Dairy Farming appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

What goes for human beings, also goes for dairy cows: A healthy and individually tailored diet is one of the most important requirements for high performance and well-being. With GEA’s automated feeding systems, the recipe can be conveniently delivered to each animal group. Years of experience, as well as the latest scientific findings, advise systems for precision feeding.

The success speaks for itself: Farmers are achieving significantly improved animal health with above-average herd performance. In addition, better feed quality and resource-friendly feed conversion go hand in hand with huge time and labor savings, as well as the ability to optimize feeding strategies in a targeted and result-oriented manner.

Good feed mix: optimized dosed rations down to the gram

Healthy growth supports productivity for a lifetime

Heifers are the cows of the future. The way they are fed improves not only their well-being but has a direct influence on their lifelong productivity. To support growth in the best possible way, GEA has developed automated feeding systems, where even small batches can easily be mixed and distributed according to plan. The latest research shows that heifers that were fed according to a precise feeding plan grew faster.

In addition, they calved significantly earlier than in the conventionally fed control group (22.2 compared to 24.6 months). Meanwhile, the costs for rations as well as feed and supplements were nearly identical in both groups. Thanks to the earlier age at first calving and the increased willingness to perform over the animal’s entire life cycle, an investment in the automated feeding system pays off. The additional time required for preparing and distributing smaller rations is taken on by the system.

Better feed intake through frequent feeding

Feeding that is efficient for the farmer also helps cows absorb nutrients better for their own energy balance. In a cow’s stomach, there are millions of active bacteria that support the digestion of plant fibers. Because microorganisms cannot adapt very well, they need a relatively stable environment to carry out their tasks. The ideal pH level for a good feed conversion is 5.5 – 6. An efficient method to keep the pH level in the rumen as consistent as possible is to provide feed throughout the day.

Another argument for frequent feeding is supplied by the cow herself: her tendency to sort against small particles in her feed contributes to an unbalanced diet, which in turn has a negative impact on the pH level in the rumen. Here, too, frequent feeding is a successful countermeasure, as it verifiably reduces variations in the pH value during the day.

Secure nutrient supply also for subordinate animals

The last in line only get the leftovers: this often applies when feed is conventionally distributed on the feeding table. Since the nutritional value of the ingredients begins to deteriorate as soon as feed is distributed, low ranking cows, who are initially denied access to the feeding table, can maintain neither their feed and nutrient intake nor milk production to the full extent.

The common practice of pushing the feed-forward may provide all cows with access to it, but cannot guarantee the uniform quality of the feed mix. When animals are fed more often, they distribute their feed intake more evenly throughout the day. At the same time, the movement profile of lower-ranking cows reveals that when they get equal access to the feeding table, they are better fed with all the necessary nutrients.

The otherwise labor-intensive processes of weighing, mixing, and distributing can conveniently be carried out by the automated feeding system. All programmed tasks are taken care of on time, precisely according to plan.

Feed quality – the mix is crucial

Back to feed quality and the advantages of a feed kitchen: At conventionally feeding dairy farms, mixed feed rations are often exposed to the air for long periods, which accelerates the deterioration and decay of nutrients particularly during the summer months. In automated feeding systems, this process is slowed down by the storage in feed bunkers, because feed is only prepared and mixed during each day as needed. Aside from the order of feed components, a feed mixture can be optimized by the type of cut applied as well as single or multiple mixing.

Best results are achieved when starting with dry and ending with wet ingredients. That’s why farmers using GEA’s systems recommend beginning with dry fodder and grains, then adding concentrates, minerals, and vitamins, and finishing with silage, molasses, and water. This is how the feed kitchen offers the best conditions because it’s the quality of the mix that determines whether cows take in the right amount of nutrients for milk production, reproduction, and good health.

Reproducible results make it easy to optimize feeding practices

A pioneering function in automated feeding consists of updated performance indicators supplied by process control and the software. To this end, daily procedures such as feed quantities distributed per group, mixing times, or feed intake are recorded and referenced. The immediate evaluation and analysis in connection with information on milk performance of individual animal groups or heifers’ weight gain make it particularly easy for the farmers to make changes to feeding plans in real-time and to improve feeding efficiency step by step. It makes no difference whether the farm feeds a full, partial, or mixed ration in combination with grazing.

Latest research findings served fresh to the feeding table The proof is in the research: for cows’ well-being, health, and vitality, freshly prepared feed should be distributed multiple times a day and as individually as possible. Feeding strategy, feeding frequency, and feed mix is directly connected to animal stamina, milk yield, and milk quality. The fact that efficient feeding and a successful feed strategy is not only good for cows but is generally the decisive factor for the profitability of dairy farms, can not only be seen in improved herd performance but is directly connected to sustainable feed implementation, savings in feed costs as well as improved reproduction. With significant labor savings, GEA’s automated feeding systems offer every opportunity to test, analyze, and reproduce promising feeding strategies at any time.

Source: GEA

The post GEA presents Its Automated Feeding Systems appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

​​​​​​​​​Brazilian dairy farm “Fazenda Trevisan” produces and processes their own milk directly for the region; this end-to-end solution is possible thanks to sustainable GEA technology. Right from the start, Osmar and Carmen Trevisan searched for a way to improve efficiency, enhance animal well-being, and enable the sustainable processing of animal waste on their dairy farm. Convinced by GEA’s holistic solution, the family farm initially invested in a GEA free-stall barn including its system technology for intelligent manure management some years ago. The farm’s latest project, a new production line for milk processing, guarantees low energy consumption, minimizes the carbon footprint, and adds a guarantee of origin. Thanks to a long-term partnership, GEA was again selected as a partner for this project.

 Growing the herd with a focus on sustainability

With GEA milking technology components and Holstein dairy cattle, the family farm initially produced 1,500 liters of milk a day. The Trevisan farm now produces 13,000 liters of milk daily with a herd numbering 900 animals, with 370 lactation cows at their new location in Farroupilha in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. To optimize the animal’s living conditions, the free-stall barn provides animal-friendly equipment from A to Z: Ventilators, sprinkler systems, a freshwater supply, and rubber mats noticeably enhance animal comfort. The relaxed atmosphere in the barn and the cows’ well-being has a positive effect on milk performance.

Sustainability and environmental friendliness were also considered when processing the manure. GEA’s liquid manure technology, therefore, consists of a scraper system ensuring dry walkways continuously and improving the hygiene standard in the barn. The resulting mass is first homogenized in pump and agitator systems. Subsequently, liquids and solids are processed in separators, screens, and presses. As valuable compost as well as a liquid fertilizer for growing grain, the processed liquid manure replaces artificial fertilizers. In addition, the high-energy material is used in Fazenda Trevisan’s own biogas plant to produce electricity, which can then be used for the farm’s operational processes.

Second mainstay thanks to milk processing

“Processing our own milk and marketing it successfully in the region was another important goal,”

says Jean Carlos, one of Trevisan’s sons, explaining the investment in the farm’s own dairy. The GEA product line consisting of centrifuge, homogenizer, and pasteurizing system increases the added value of the operation and opens the door to a segment of the dairy sector that will bring the family farm a significant increase in income in the long term.

The dairy was installed right next to the milking facility to process the raw milk into high-quality dairy products in the shortest possible time and pack them. The fully automated GEA production line optimizes the workload for personnel and ensures the highly efficient, economical use of energy, water, and operating resources for process control and plant hygiene. Thanks to processing the milk directly on the farm, transport routes are eliminated and cooling times minimized, with a positive effect on Fazenda Trevisan’s environmental impact.

Long-term planning with expandable GEA technology

The plant was designed to process 20,000 liters of milk per day, mainly focused on producing pasteurized and homogenized milk. However, the design is flexible so that production capacity can be expanded in the future.

“GEA’s solutions make sense, because they are efficient, long-lasting, and very robust, which pays off in the maintenance routine even after many years of use,”

emphasizes Jean Carlos.

“These guarantees are only possible because the plant’s level of innovation and automation is very high,”

adds head of the production, Luciano Persico.

“The plant is ultra-modern and has become a model for many dairy farms in Brazil. In addition, GEA’s service and support are always very satisfied. All stages of planning, implementation, system integration, and after-sales support were carried out very well.”

Just months after start-up, the family-run dairy farm is already successfully selling five products in the most important markets in the surrounding regions, from whole milk all the way to lactose-free milk and cream. Its success proves the farm made the right decision: The brand Trevisan stands for the sustainability and quality of products consumers love, with origin guaranteed.

The post GEA technology supports Fazenda Trevisan milk processing appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

In a dairy farm, biosecurity is a daily occurring concept. There are several measures that a dairy farmer should put in place to ensure biosecurity, measures that are national and international, interlinked and all requiring a balanced and dynamic attention, which the farmer has learned to deal with. European animal health legislation [Reg. (EU) no. 2016/429) defines biosecurity as

“the sum of management and physical measures designed to reduce the risk of the introduction, development and spread of diseases to, from and within: (a) an animal population, or (b) an establishment, zone, compartment, means of transport or any other facilities, premises or location“.

This “package of measures” and its correct daily application are at the base of food safety. Thus, in any food production, from farm to fork, we need the commitment and professionalism of all operators, encouraged to risk management not only because this is what the law says, but for a matter of social responsibility aiming at safeguarding animal, plant, human health and protecting the environment. Farmers play an essential role in dairy production since they contribute to a safe milk for the final consumer thanks to their everyday activity in dairy farms, according to good hygiene practices and an effective management plan.

Evidently, the biosecurity approach does not stop at the farm gates, and all others operators cooperate and work to provide safe products to the consumer. Dairy farmers will do their best in farms under their control, while guaranteeing collaboration to the operators that come in the following phases of the production.

Their commitment covers several aspects, all closely related to each other. As a fundamental biosecurity goal, the farmer acts in order to reduce the risk of introduction, development and spread of diseases in the herd and from their farms to other neighboring farms or interacting activities, as established by the aforementioned definition of biosecurity.

As we all know, everything a farmer does to impede, reduce or prevent zoonoses from reaching humans is a set of actions aiming at ensuring the food safety of milk, as well as an animal health goal. There are many aspects to which dairy farmers have to pay attention: let’s see some of them.

Animal movement, just introduced or already present in the dairy farm, is the aspect that represents the most important risk for the health status of the herd and therefore requires simple but essential rules to follow. Farmers have to maintain rooms housing animals, storage rooms and the milking parlour clean.

Attention should also be paid to the staff, that should work in only one farm to not be a carrier of potential diseases. Preventing infestations (insects and other animals, such as rodents, birds, etc.), as well as pest control are highly important. Other domestic (dogs, cats) and wild (e.g., wild boars) animal species can represent sources of infection and appropriate actions should be carried out also in this case.

Precautions and management measures should be defined and implemented both in the case of entrance of new and regular visitors. Furthermore, farmers should be able to recognize certain signs related to the most common infectious diseases for dairy cattle [infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhea, paratuberculosis] and implement correct operative preventive and control plans (vaccinations, elimination of infected animals, eradication, etc.).

We should not forget the need to know common signs of endo- and ectoparasitic infections, as well as the ability to prevent and control these infections, in particular in younger and grazing animals by means of control and eradication plans. For all these aspects, dairy farmers need to be supported by professionals such as veterinarians and other experts on the subject.

Cows’ udder infections represent a high risk for biosecurity in dairy farms, being the main health problem in this type of farms. Particularly in dairy cows, the tool used to monitor the prevalence of infections is the so-called somatic cell count (SCC): although this data does not specify exactly which microorganism is responsible for the infection, its correct interpretation makes possible for us to understand whether there is a suspicion of prevalent infection in the farm. Regardless, the information relating to a high value of somatic cells is that we have an inflammatory reaction affecting the mammary tissue, or mastitis.

In the future, livestock production will be involved in the great and difficult challenge of fighting antimicrobial resistance (and therefore antibiotic resistance). Infectious diseases that proliferate in a farm oblige the dairy farmer to use antibiotics and, given the current trend of the antibiotic resistance phenomenon, biosecurity measures are crucial.

However, sometimes preventive measures are not sufficient since it may happen that biological, physical (for example, excessively stressful milking procedures for cows’ udders) or chemical agents lead to mastitis, making the mammary tissue ideal for bacterial infections, although we have done a lot in our dairy farm to prevent them from spreading.

Before resorting to antibiotic therapies, there is a possible complementary veterinary solution that helps the natural self-regeneration of the tissue, and is made by OZOLEA: the veterinary device Ozolea-Mast for intra-mammary use. In the previous moments a mastitis is considered clinical, a secretory and functional disorder occurs frequently, and it is commonly identified by the milker for the presence of clots in milk, or for a variation in the electrical conductivity of milk.

The adequate support to the functionality of the tissue and the physical-mechanical filming effect of Ozolea-Mast, while protecting the mucosa, allow the tissue to proceed with natural regeneration, increasing the possibilities of the tissue itself to manage autonomously a possible bacterial aggression. The bioengineered oil barrier created by Ozolea-Mast is a very uncomfortable environment for bacteria: repeating the application until full tissue competence is achieved makes bacterial colonization difficult, slowing the aggressiveness of its attack.

The use of Ozolea-Mast does not have the unique goal of facilitating this regeneration process, but aims at much more: using Ozolea-Mast means being able to maintain the animal in a state of welfare and productivity, before the disease occurs, which would mean loss of productivity, necessary intervention with pharmaceutical products, related side effects, elimination of milk during the withdrawal period, contribution to the trend of antibiotic resistance and repercussions on the supply chain, stress for the animal and further lower productivity.

Source: Ozolea

The post Ozolea supports the quality of their milk appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Among AFBF’s priorities is amending the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act to give dairy farmers an opportunity to directly vote on Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) issues. Currently, only dairy farmers who are independent and not members of cooperatives may cast individual ballots. Cooperatives may allow their members to vote independently, but then lose their ability to bloc vote on behalf of their non-participating members. AFBF supports allowing modified bloc-voting, which would allow co-op members to vote independently and confidentially, while allowing cooperatives to cast ballots for farmers who choose not to cast an individual ballot.

A Farm Bureau Federal Milk Marketing Order Working Group, consisting of grassroot dairy farmer members, worked for a year to examine the system and develop recommendations to modernize the current FMMO system. Farm Bureau delegates voted to approve the group’s proposals.

“I appreciate all the work our members have done to give individual farmers a stronger voice in the milk pricing and pooling regulations,”

said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.

“Farm Bureau has been outspoken on the disparities in the beef and hog markets, and we are just as concerned about the large imbalances in the pricing and pooling of milk – which ultimately cost dairy farmers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Wild price swings during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted how important fair systems are to the well-being of America’s farmers and ranchers. By giving dairy farmers a seat at the table, we can begin addressing the challenges of the current FMMO system and work toward a more equitable compensation system for the hardworking men and women in the dairy industry.”

Although Federal Milk Marketing Orders have been a pillar of the dairy industry for more than 80 years, outside of the 2018 farm bill, the program has not undergone substantial change in almost two decades.

AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton said,

“COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented volatility in agricultural markets, especially milk and dairy commodity prices. The price volatility, a record-large spread between prices for the various milk classes, mass de-pooling and record-large milk check deductions take money out of farmers’ pockets at a time when they desperately need it. Moreover, it highlights the urgent need for dairy farmers and the industry to collectively consider ways to modernize the FMMO system and improve prices paid to farmers.”

Other recommendations in the final report include expanding price discovery and examining alternative ways to price fluid milk and improve risk-sharing between farmers and processors.

Source: American Farm Bureau Federation

The post Farmers Deserve a Seat at the Table in Milk Pricing Policy appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“We want to assure our dairy producers that the same, committed team they have grown with will remain an integral part of Milk Barn and our product and service offerings moving forward,” Agha says. “We enjoy being a full-fledged DeLaval dealership. With the resources of DeLaval and industry experts, we are able to bring a complete package of services and resources from our Milk Barn to your Milk Barn.”

The Milk Barn product line includes a range of technology-forward DeLaval solutions, from teat dips, detergents and farm supplies, to the latest offerings from DeLaval: the VMS milking system V300, Parlor milking system P500, and OptiDuo feed refresher.

“Our dealers are the backbone of the products and service that DeLaval provides. We can bring the latest and greatest to the market, but it’s our dealers who make the difference on the farm each day, and we are confident that Milk Barn will serve this area well.”

said Steve Harris, Director, DeLaval US Channel Sales.

The team at Milk Barn will serve dairy producers out of three, key locations: Hagerstown, MD, Shippensburg, PA, and Martinsburg, PA. Although the former Agri-Service, LLC location at Belleville, PA, has closed, customers in the area will continue receiving the day-to-day service and support they need for success on their dairy operations.

Source: Delaval

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Consuming dairy products provides nutrients that are vital to your overall health! Dairy is an excellent source of protein, potassium, vitamin D and is American’s number one source of calcium.

Dairy isn’t just a healthy and delicious food group – it contributes significantly to the American economy. The dairy industry accounts for 1% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, generating an economic impact of $628 billion while creating nearly 3 million U.S. jobs.

Since the stay-at-home order has been put in place grocery sales of dairy products have increased. However, a majority of milk processing plants service the restaurant industry, schools, as well as other food services. The surplus of milk, cheese and butter has dairymen dumping their milk down the drain.

How can you help the dairy industry?

If you are able, you should.

• Continue to buy dairy products at the grocery store.
• Support local restaurants offering carry-out orders.
• Contact your local food pantry to see what items they need! Milk is one of the top requested items from many food pantries.
• Send your local farmer a thank you note! A little appreciation and encouragement in tough times can go a long way.

Farming is a 24-hour a day, 7-day per week job. Thank you to everyone on the farm, and all those in the supply chain to the grocery store, who are working hard to keep us all fed!

DAIRY IS Essential: Stay Strong, Stay Healthy and Support our Farmers!

Source: Agromatic

The post How to help Agromatic and the entire dairy industry during Covid-19 appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.