increase font size
The patch contains an electronic circuit.
Tail pant has been shelved by a King Country farm — the first in New Zealand to try DeLaval’s automated cow heat detection.
Called HeatGate, it has an electronic circuit contained in an adhesive patch. The technology replaces tail paint and manual drafting.
The patch is activated once pressure is applied and it then automatically sorts cows at the gate for mating. The system suits any shed and farming system.
Robbie van der Poel, whose 400 cow farm at Otorohanga is doing the trial, says he likes the patches’ simplicity.
“Anyone can use this in a way that minimises labour. We now have one fewer labour units in the cowshed.
“You can do the whole herd in one milking ready to send out the next day and it’s a one-off cost.”
DeLaval says the technology can improve submission and in-calf rates.
“The technology enables farmers to lift their profitability and manage the health of their animals without increases in labour,” said Peter Wilson, solution manager herd management at DeLaval.
“We’ve seen about 231 more days in milk on our test farm as a result of automating heat detection alone.
“In our first mating we had a 7% increase in our 3 week in-calf rate so that basically means more cows in calf earlier, more days in milk, more money in my pocket,” said Van Der Poel.
DeLaval HeatGate can be installed and operated in any cow shed and any farming system. It can be run by a hand-held device, or by a standalone fixture on any gate (no need to connect it to a central data management system) or with a DeLaval Sortgate.
“Before using HeatGate we used traditional tail paint, as I was taught. But now the cows are automatically drafted out and they’re there waiting for me to deal with after milking,” said van der Poel.
Machinery manufacturer John Deere and livestock specialists DeLaval have pooled their resources to create the Milk Sustainability Center (MSC), described as a digital ecosystem to help dairy farmers improve the efficiency and sustainability of their operations.
Milking specialist DeLaval plans to increase its production capacity of automatic milking machines to meet rising customer demand.
Building on its launch back in 2018, DeLaval has launched a new OptiDuo feed pushing robot, with a claim that using this technology can add up to three litres/ cow/day.
Milking and technology specialist DeLaval has begun an 18,000m² rebuild at its Hamra Farm in Sweden.
Software specialist Company-X is acquiring advertising agency Hot Mustard's app developing business.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.
