The world’s leading livestock trade fair has returned to Hannover, Germany, after a pandemic-induced hiatus.
Typically held every two years, EuroTier attracts more than 150,000 visitors to see the latest innovations in livestock husbandry and welfare.
The 2020 event was cancelled but organizers say it has prepared a comeback event to ensure livestock producers can stay at the forefront of new product development. Some 1,700 exhibitors from 55 countries were expected to attend.
The event includes various forums on livestock production trends and goals.
Before the event, organizers presented four gold medal awards and 14 silver medal awards for new products that impressed independent judges.
Several companies revealed new products ahead of the show and hinted at further announcements.
Gold medal awards
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica: Soundtalks
Dutch company Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica won gold for its SoundTalks system that continuously analyzes the respiratory health status of pigs.
Monitors installed in pens are each equipped with six microphones that register all noises and distinguish coughing from other noises with the aid of an algorithm.
Since the system records 24 hours a day, it is also able to register the intensity of coughing during pigs’ resting phase.
It can then indicate the problem via a traffic light system directly in the pen or through a smartphone app.
GEA AutoDry
Dairy equipment specialist GEA won gold for its AutoDry system for naturally drying off cows while reducing use of antibiotics.
The AutoDry management software system was initially developed for conventional milking systems and will soon be ready for use in robotic milking operations.
It can be activated for individual cows and effectively prepares them for drying off. AutoDry introduces automatic milking cluster removal after reaching a pre-defined target milk volume. It starts around 10 days before drying off, gradually reducing milk production each day using a patented algorithm.
Siliconform Stimulor StressLess
Cows with large teats often suffer stress when teat cup liners are too tight. The wave-shaped design of the Stimulor StressLess enables teats of different sizes to be milked using the same teat cup liner.
Design of the lip responds to the difference in pressure in the teat cup liner and allows outside air to flow to equalize that pressure if necessary. This delays teat cup ascent and reduces tissue stress.
The wave-shaped structure regulates or closes again at the right time and keeps the head vacuum stable to hold the cup on the udder.
Wasserbauer Active Cleaner
The Active Cleaner cleaning robot from Wasserbauer GmbH is a fully automated system based on artificial intelligence technology. The camera-guided technology analyzes data in real time and detects manure to be removed.
Once it has detected multiple piles of manure, it automatically computes the optimum route, collects the material, evaluates the size and quantity and unloads it in an appropriate location.
Silver medal awards
Vilofoss CareFoss E-Force
The Carefoss E-Force is a supplementary feed made to optimize the supply of vitamin E in calves in a readily absorbed format.
Published scientific studies indicate that CareFoss E-Force can significantly increase the plasma vitamin E level of calves during and after weaning. Lower plasma amyloid and cortisol values shown in the study also indicate reduced stress and inflammation levels.
DSM Nutritional Products – Bovaer
Bovaer consists of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NOP), an approved feed additive for cattle that helps reduce methane production.
The effect of 3NOP in reducing methane formation in the rumen was confirmed during the approval process. In the rumen, the molecule is metabolized to form 1,3-propandiol, nitrate and nitrite, and has no disadvantageous effects on animal health, consumer safety or the environment.
Hanskamp AgroTech BeddingCleaner
Pulled by a tractor, the BeddingCleaner cleans the bedding from cow barns using a sieve mat. Uncontaminated bedding drops back into the pen. Bedding material that sticks to feces is collected and taken to an integrated storage bunker. The process keeps bedding cleaner and drier and can be used for longer periods.
Forster Technik Clean and Fill Station
Cleaning large milk feeders can be a laborious task but the Clean & Fill Station makes it easier. It connects to the mobile milk tank for cleaning with a few manual steps. The cleaning program runs automatically and cleans all surfaces and sensitive areas.
The tank is automatically refilled with water at a designated time via the set program and is heated to the specified temperature. The farmer only has to add the required quantity of milk substitute and the calf drinker is ready for use.
Cowhouse International Dreamstall
The Dreamstall cubicle bar enables cows to stand and move more naturally within their cubicles. The cubicle design does not have the classic neck tube and conventional dividing bars.
The neck tube is replaced by two flexible, spherical bodies that guide the standing cow’s shoulder area. This enables the cow to stand freely in a gap with her head raised. Instead of conventional dividing bars, there are two horizontal, flexible guide frames that guide the standing cow to a central standing position.
Holscher + Leuschner optiMarker
The optiMarker is a marking station with an optical scale designed for use with pigs. A 3D camera is used to determine an animal’s weight and it is then automatically marked with spray paint when it reaches a specified weight.
The optical and marking units are small and portable, and can be inserted into simple brackets in different pens as required. The measurements can be stored in a central database during fattening to monitor animal performance.
Schauer Agrotronic Strohmatic Air ASD
The Strohmatic Air ASD is a fully automatic littering system that uniformly distributes de-dusted straw in the poultry barn and is particularly suitable for turkey barns. It enables targeted littering that can be automatically controlled in time and quantity.
It doesn’t require a tractor or litter spreader so it reduces the risk of disease-causing pathogens. This significantly improves hygiene and reduces the spread of histomoniasis.
Weda Dry.Sec
The Weda Dry.Sec eases the work involved in feeding insect-based rations to animals. Using a computer, it eliminates feeding errors associated with a mix being too thin, in which the larvae drown, or an excessively dry feed mash, in which larvae are unable to create air tubes.
For example, black soldier flies live on a feed substrate consisting of various fruit and vegetable byproducts that are crushed and ground. The resulting feed mash is highly liquid and supplemented with cereal bran to reach about 30 percent dry matter. It can easily clog delivery machinery unless the mix is correctly formulated.
Lakto Hayvancilik Laktowash
Laktowash is a cleaning unit for mobile bucket milking systems that thoroughly cleans all surfaces in which milk comes into contact. The mobile milking unit is connected to Laktowash using a simple adapter over the bucket lid. The vacuum pump fitted in the milking unit ensures turbulence while Laktowash runs through a pre-specified cleaning and disinfection cycle. At the end of each washing process, Laktowash collects the remaining fluid in the bucket and pumps it away.
Oregano oil formulated for dairy cows
Dostofarm’s Dosto Ruminant bi-active is a co-ordinated combination of rumen-available and rumen-protected oregano oil, available as a premix for use in mineral and compound feeds.
Essential oregano oil has long been known for its appetite-stimulating effect, which increases roughage intake. It also stimulates rumination activity and increases milk yield and milk constituents by positively influencing rumen flora.
Positive effects on metabolic disorders, udder health and somatic cell counts have been demonstrated in scientific trials.
The combination of rumen-available and rumen-protected oregano oil is also available as Dosto TMR bi-active, as a supplementary feed. It is used in total mixed rations at 50 grams per animal per day.
GEA DairyFeed F4500 autonomous feeding robot
GEA is launching its DairyFeed F4500 feeding robot at EuroTier to help dairy farms reduce their carbon footprint and operating costs.
The feeder operates on sensor technology and can handle herds of up to 300 cows. It runs on electricity and can be recharged.
No major reconstruction is needed for installation and feed bunkers can be positioned as required. Installation includes automatic mapping of the farm with the help of laser scanners to define reference points and the driving route.
Once the bunkers have been filled, the robot weighs the optimum mix for each group of animals, blends them and feeds them at desired times.
The robot is linked to the GEA DairyNet herd management system and can be monitored and controlled from mobile devices.
Faresin introduces new Leader PF3 self-propelled mixer wagon
Italian Faresin Industries is introducing its new three-auger mixer wagon designed for large livestock farms from 1,000 head upward.
The wagon is available in 30 cubic metre and 36 cubic metre capacities and three steered axles. The front and rear drive axles are permanent four-wheel drive, and the servo-hydraulic steering on all axles reduces the needed manoeuvring space.
Mixing and feeding can be carried out automatically because the system interconnects with other. Starting from a recipe, it can program its activities according to the raw materials that are loaded.
New Trioliet Triotrac M1 1700
Trioliet will launch its Triotrac M compact self-propelled feeder models available in two sizes: 14 and 17 cubic metres.
A small turning circle paired with four-wheel steering makes the Triotrac M easy to manoeuvre between buildings and within silage pits. It can extract silage at heights of up to 4.5 metres.
The Triotrac M can also process round or square bales, loose byproducts, mineral feed and even beet or potato fodder.
The cab height can be adjusted and the unit is controlled with a joystick in the armrest. All settings for loading, mixing and discharging feed can be adjusted with the joystick.
The diesel engine is at the rear, making it quiet in the cab.
The Triotrac M can be fitted with a cross conveyor belt at the rear or discharge doors on both sides. A cross conveyor chain and an extension chain are also available.
Schaffer updates loaders
German manufacturer Schaffer is launching the successor to its 2028 loader as well as further options for its 6680 T and 9660 T models at the EuroTier show.
The telescopic wheel loader 6680 T is now available with a 40 km-h transmission and the 9660 T boasts a more powerful Deutz engine.
The yard loader 2028-2 has the Schaffer Power Transmission that makes the machine more agile and boosts its thrust by 45 percent.
It has optional cruise control that maintains the selected forward speed automatically, irrespective of current engine speed.
The 6680 T is a six-tonne machine that can lift the load to a height of 4.95 m and travels at up to 40 km-h. With high-pressure components, thrust has been boosted by 13 percent, while overall machine efficiency has increased by 8 eight percent to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The high-speed version features the electronic SPT ground drive and the ecoMode as standard.
The flagship in the Schaffer program is the 9660 T-2. It is powered by a Deutz TCD 5.2 engine of either 130kW (177 h.p.) or 150kW (204 h.p.).
