How to meet future needs of cows and operators in automatic milking systems? Erich Schneider EDF-Congress Rostock
Challenges on a dairy business EDF-Congress Rostock
Customer objectives in Dairy farming Cow welfare > Healthy and productive cows Long life time > 50.000 kg milk yield Good climate during the seasons Stress free environment Good hygiene conditions Adaquade feed according performance Water at any time Enhance productivity in total Reduction on manual work and labor E.g. Automated milking system and feeding Reduce loss of money E.g. MASTITIS Reduce use of antibiotics Approach: Proactive health management EDF Congress Rostock
Health management: Top diseases for milking cows and economic consequences: (average in Europe) Change in behaviour Costs per clinical case Acute Mastitis Lameness Milk yield decreases, increased conductivity Low activity, Feed intake reduced Feed intake decreases Milk yield decreases Low activity 280 (164-530 ) 227 GBP (133-430) 316 (133-500 ) 257 GBP (108-406) Data available from DMS 21 Data available from CowView Ketosis Feed intake decreases, Milk yield decreases, Reduced or higher activity 238 (150-600 ) 193 GBP (122-487) Acidosis Feed intake stops 340 (DE) 276 GBP Metritis EDF Congress Rostock Feed intake reduced, Milk yield decreases Low activity 131 (110-152 ) 106 GBP (89-123)
Profitability of a cow 2000 1500 1000 500 Cow ROI 2,3 lactations 0-500 -1000 0 20 40 60 80 100 Week -1500-2000 Invest Return Profit EDF Congress Rostock
Culling reasons Quelle: In Anlehnung an Landesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Fischerei Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Institut für Tierproduktion, 2010 EDF Congress Rostock
Culling reasons on udder problems are 16% EDF Congress Rostock
Explanation: How does mastitis accrue? Infection Invasion Contamination EDF Congress Rostock
Explanation: How does mastitis accrue? Contamination Invasion Latent Infection Subclinical infection Clinical infection EDF Congress Rostock
Explanation: How does mastitis accrue? Contamination Invasion Latent Infection Subclinical infection Clinical infection Explanation: Which symptoms can be discovered? The udder outside and inside is always populated with. Thats a normal status. The germs in the udder are influenced by numerous factors and can release a udder infection at any time. 1. Germ fluctuation of 50.000 cells / ml are quite normal * 1. > 100.000 cells / ml - 250.000 cells / ml 2. No up normal milk 3. Infection symptoms: non 4. Reduced milk yield 1. > 250.000 cells / ml 2. Up normal milk (flakes) ** 3. Infection symptoms: Redness Swell Pain Heat 4. Reduced milk yield 5. Disturbance of general condition (especially with coliform germs) * Beginning and end of lactation ** >1.000.000 cells / ml EDF-Congress Rostock
Sensors overview Teat finding 3D Camera Milk quality Color sensor Udder Health Conductivity sensor Take off moment Sensor Vacuum drop Kick Off Sensor EDF-Congress Rostock
Accuracy of sensors today EDF-Congress Rostock
Summary: Accuracy of the detection through sensors today 1. Requirement and reality don t fit together. 2. The accuracy of measurement is not high enough A 100 % accuracy is not reachable. 3. Additional sensors don t increase the accuracy 4. The combination of sensor data and algorithm is not satisfying today. Sensors are only indicators to help the farmer. 5. The number of to control cows on the alarm list is still to high 6. That leads to frustration. Most farmers don t check the cows on the alarm list consequently. EDF-Congress Rostock
Summary: Accuracy of the detection through sensors today 1. An early detection of mastitis is today not possible, because every animal reacts in a different way. The detection is to late. 2. The detection is in single cases quite expensive (agent, license) 3. Even if the mastitis is detected early enough and treated, the healing rate is at 50%. 4. To be able to allocate the right pathogen to the right antibiotic a bacteriological analysis has to be done. In general farmers don t do that very often. (broud - spectrum antibiotic) 5. Through the use of the right antibiotic the recovery rate increases only by 10 % 6. The chance that a cow will become ill a second time is at > 80 % EDF-Congress Rostock
Summary: And what can we do now? We should try up front to minimize all factors which influence a mastitis positive. Because of the shown facts we put our energy not into the development of numerous sensors but in the prevention of mastitis. EDF-Congress Rostock
Which factors influence a mastitis positive? Numerous factors can influence the development of a udder infection in interactions. others Genetic (Mastitis sensibility) Feat quality Hallway design Settings weather, climate Teat form / Teat position Performance linked feeding Floor design Hygiene Stadium of lactation Hygiene of resting area Design of resting area Health monitoring assistance Milk yield Condition of teat tissue Further illnesses Animal control & monitoring Design of cow traffic Population density Manual interaction possibilities Assistance of Special Need cows EDF-Congress Rostock
Which factors influence a mastitis positive? Numerous factors can influence the development of a udder infection in interactions. Which factors can be influenced by us? others Genetic (Mastitis sensibility) Feat quality Hallway design Settings Weather, climate Teat form / Teat position Performance linked feeding Floor design Hygiene Stadium of lactation Hygiene of resting area Design of resting area Health monitoring assistance Milk yield Condition of teat tissue Further illnesses Animal control & monitoring Design of cow traffic Population density Manual interaction possibilities Assistance of Special Need cows EDF-Congress Rostock
Fully automated milking process (DairyProQ) Attachment Stimulation Cleaning Drying Pre milking Milking Detach Drive in CIP Dipping Outside cleaning liner Fast and gentle milking No cross contamination due to quarter milking No teat stress due to quarterwise detachment No germ transfer from cow to cow due to back flush EDF Congress Rostock Inside cleaning / sanitazion
and even more opportunities.. Cow behaviour under observation with CowView EDF Congress Rostock
CowView at a glance CowView Tracks the cow s position Analyses her behaviour Creates warnings and alerts Includes workflow management Online application Interface to Dairyplan, DCF (DK) Use as stand alone in competitors' systems Based on RTLS technology: Real Time Locating System: Positioning of objects in real time allows tracking and identification of location of these objects Usually consists of tags and wireless receiving antennas Common technology in logistic systems EDF Congress Rostock