Automatic feeding from the silo to the trough saves up to 70% time
Feeding has a direct impact on milk yields. To ensure that cows always have access to a fresh ration, BouMatic now offers a range of innovative robots, from feed pushers to feeding robots. These new robotic solutions reduce the time spent on this often time-consuming task for farmers. The result is less waste, optimised feed intake and up to 70% less time spent pushing or distributing forage.
Labour shortages, a desire to waste less of an expensive resource, less time spent... more and more farmers are turning to robotisation to feed their herd at the trough. "This is a job that accounts for 30% of the time spent on a dairy farm, points out Jean-François Glinche, Milking Systems and Feeding Product Manager at BouMatic.
When feed is distributed in the morning, and part of the ration is scattered out of reach over the course of the day, this is not good for either the farmer or the animals. Providing them with a constant supply of fresh feed encourages ingestion and rumination.”
A feed pusher that adapts to the organisation of the building
In response to demand, the equipment manufacturer is launching a brand new feed pusher: the Butler Gold Pro. Fully autonomous, the machine moves around the building using magnets installed in the floor. The circuit can be fully configured: "We can program the robot's software so that it adapts its behaviour to the way the building is organised, explains Jean-François Glinche.
For example, it can pass by the dry cows less often to ensure that the ration lasts two days, or continue its journey without stopping if a pen is empty.” Did you say autonomous? Thanks to its radio system, the Butler Gold Pro can open doors to go from one building to another! In the event of a problem, the farmer can take control remotely via a Wi-Fi connection.
Up to 70% time savings depending on the farm
Able to work for twelve hours thanks to its gel battery, the Butler relieves the farmer of the task of pushing up feed. And it's effective: compared with previous practices, monitoring of farms equipped with the Butler has shown time savings of up to 70%.
In terms of milk production, the results are equally impressive. "All the studies show that regularly pushing back forage helps to increase production by up to a litre per cow," adds the product manager. The auger fitted to the Butler Gold Pro robot preserves feed freshness and a hopper can be added to distribute concentrates or mineral supplements, the dose of which can be differentiated by group of animals.
Shuttle Eco, the feeding robot that takes the load off farmers
Recently launched on the French market, the Shuttle Eco is positioned as the premium autonomous feed dispenser in its category. Equipped with a 2.2 m3 mixing hopper, this robot uses the same magnet system as the Butler Gold Pro. It also combines this with a feed pusher function.
“Switching from one to the other is very simple, notes Jean-François Glinche. The software interface is the same, and all parameters can be retained.” The lithium-ion batteries enable it to run for twelve hours at a time. These batteries are more efficient, and feature a temperature maintenance system for optimum performance
Capable of individualizing rations by animal category
What makes this a Premium version is that the Shuttle Eco, in addition to filling its hopper and discharging its load at the trough, is also and above all capable of differentiating distribution by animal category, with customized rations. Their composition is recorded in the software.
“It's a really cutting-edge tool, enthuses the expert. We can manage each group of animals in an ultra-fine-tuned way. For example, it's possible to distribute rations, with this or that quantity of minerals, to heifers aged six, twelve or eighteen months, or to plan a special ration for dry cows, females in preparation for calving. It's all tailor-made.”
With the LIFT, silage is unloaded and distributed “minute”
A kitchen is needed to provide the Shuttle Eco's hopper with fresh feed. This system mixes the various ration components in tanks. They can be loaded by tractor, but also with the LIFT marketed by BouMatic.
“It's a product that we're the only ones to offer to date, points out Jean-François Glinche. It's a silage unloading robot that picks up silage directly from the silo and transports it to the Shuttle Eco. This eliminates the need to cut cubes to supply the kitchen. The silage is extracted, then sucked up by a vacuum system via a hose to the tanks.” A conveyor fills one side, the hopper is loaded on the other... and the ration is distributed in the process. Freshness guaranteed!