Solutions

Feed station

When a cow enters the feed station, the processor identifies her by an electronic transponder around her neck. Because the processor calculates every animal’s daily ration, continuously around the clock, it can immediately assess if the cow should eat, and how much. The station then blends and dispenses the feed right to the cow’s mouth at a speed predetermined to match her eating speed. No feed is wasted, because feed is dispensed according to her eating speed.

Animal welfare

Individual feed planning ensures that each cow receives the right level of feed throughout her cycle; stepping up feed intake at the start of lactation and reducing it towards drying-off. Regular feeding maintains a stable rumen pH, compared to in-parlor feeding, as it maximizes the uptake of nutrients and reduces the risk of metabolic diseases.

Farm profitability

Healthier cows produce more milk generating more revenues. Less overfeeding of cows reduces feed costs: up to 5% less feed is needed.

Environment

The individual rationing helps maximize productivity and avoid overfeeding, as well as reducing concentrate waste. All of which improve energy and overall resource efficiency.

Feedtech Silage

Feedtech™ Silage includes a range of products that are made specifically for different silage crops. Feedtech™ silage is developed to improve feed quality, improve silage palatability and reduce dry matter losses both during ensiling and after opening the silo.

Animal welfare

Feedtech™ Silage can reduce the levels of yeast and mould. Reducing high levels of bacteria improves silage palatability and provides for better animal health.

Farm profitability

Reducing losses caused by poor forage fermentation increases the amount of dry matter available. This may reduce the acreage needed for silage cropping. Reducing silage wastage saves feed costs; improving silage quality increases dry matter intake, encouraging more milk production.

Environment

Feed wastage at the bunker can be reduced by half, i.e. 15% of untreated silage is wasted on average compared with less than 8% for treated silage. This saves energy emissions to air.

Social responsibility

Silage fermentation may produce several kinds of gas, including carbon dioxide and nitric oxide. Feedtech™ Silage reduces the production of bunker gases which in turn improves the working environment.

Swinging cow brush

DeLaval swinging cow brush SCB, starts to rotate on contact at an animal friendly speed. It swings freely in all directions, smoothly up, over and alongside the cow. The bristles have the right length and hardness to stimulate the blood circulation whilst helping the cow to keep clean and calm. It has a patented unique design and it is approved by the German Agricultural Society (DLG).

Animal welfare

Increase udder hygiene and comfort: the cow can scratch wherever she wants to and without any risk of injury. Otherwise she would scratch on any sharp surface in the barn. The cows that use a cow brush are cleaner with less itching and therefore calmer and more balanced. A study by Cornell University in 2009 shows better animal health due to increase in blood circulation. It also shows that clinical mastitis was 35% lower for cows in second and higher lactation using the SCB.

The brush has a safety function that makes it turn in the opposite direction and turn off in case a cow gets trapped.

Farm profitability

The study by Cornell University also reported increased milk production of up to 1kg per day for cows in a pen using the swinging cow brush compare to a reference group kept under the same conditions without SCB. Improved general health leads to less treatment and culling costs.

Environment

The increased productivity means the cow can produce more milk with the same resources used. The loss of milk due to illness is also reduced.

Social responsibility

The automated function provides better working conditions as it reduces a heavy part of the work load and it is easy to keep clean. The brush is pre-mounted so it is easy to install. If it is installed in the right space in a loose housing barn, it helps the flow of cow traffic by guiding cows from the feeding area to the resting area.

Frequency controlled vacuum pumps

Traditionally the vacuum pumps in a milking system run at a constant speed and the vacuum level is maintained by letting in air to the vacuum lines. Another newer way to maintain a constant vacuum level is to adjust the speed of the vacuum pumps so that they just produce the amount of airflow necessary. DeLaval frequency controlled vacuum pumps are designed to adopt their operation like this. It means less energy is used to produce the same result. 

Animal welfare

Constant vacuum stability for smooth milking can improve cow udder health. Less noise while milking provides a calmer environment for cows.

Farm profitability

Regulating vacuum pump speed saves up to 70% of the energy cost related to the operation of the pump. This can lead to large savings since conventional vacuum systems can consume between 70 to 100 kWh per cow and year (Dairy Farm Energy) or about 20 % of the total amount of electric energy used on a farm is traditionally consumed by the vacuum pumps (Sanford, Vacuum Systems, 2004).

Environment

Saves energy by regulating vacuum pump speed, and 95% of the oil used is collected for controlled disposal.

Social responsibility

The milking process is quieter with frequency controlled vacuum pumps – resulting in a better working environment for the milkers.

DeLaval VMS

DeLaval voluntary milking system VMS is one of the world's most efficient automatic milking systems (AMS) in relation to energy, according to a 2009 study from by the Danish Agricultural Advisory Service (DAAS).

Animal welfare

VMS also gently cleans the teats with warm water and air, stimulate cows for optimum milk let down time and it is the only system that dries each teat.

Farm profitability

Energy consumption of VMS has been reduced by 75% over a period of 8 years. The current hydraulic VMS robot arm uses much less energy during milking compared to pneumatic version.

This has made possible considerable cost savings also for existing VMS users as older VMSs can be upgraded e.g. by installing a frequency control on their vacuum pump.

Environment

The independent DAAS study looked at the energy consumption per ton of milk. Consumption of VMS is put at 19.5 kWh per ton of milk, a result consistent with the company’s assessment of a 15 to 25 kWh range.

Social responsibility

The VMS works automatically and can service up to 70 cows. It can save up to 2.5 man hours per day related to milking on a 70 cow farm. It has a frequency driven vacuum pump which makes less noise than previous pumps, providing a quieter working environment.

Pre-cooling

Pre-cooling transfers heat from milk and cools it significantly before it reaches the cooling tank. It can be combined with a MTS (Milk transfer system smooth operator) to secure that the milk flow is continuously matched with an appropriate amount of cool water for better cooling. Pre-cooling reduces the total electrical energy required to cool milk.

Animal welfare

Pre-cooling generates lukewarm water. Since the ideal temperature of drinking water for cows is 15°C -17°C it is more beneficial to use the water used to cool the milk as drinking water than colder water normally used – especially in cold ambient temperatures.

Farm profitability

This solution can both improve profits and reduce costs. Milk yield per cow increases when drinking water is at an optimum temperature and the cow drinks more. Pre-cooling reduces the total amount of electricity required to cool milk: and it reduces the compressor's daily running time and prolongs its operational life. The energy savings depend on the temperature of the water used but can reach 60%.

Environment

Pre-cooling reduces electrical energy required to cool milk.

Social responsibility

Pre-cooling systems work automatically and do not add extra work to the daily routines at the farm.

Heat/energy recovery

DeLaval heat recovery system generates warm water using waste heat from the milk cooling process. This solution can recover up to 60 percent of the heat extracted from cooling milk and convert it to hot water for use in all your pipeline and parlor cleaning. For every liter of milk cooled, 0.7 liters of warm water is produced. DeLaval heat recovery system generates warm water as soon as the milk cooling process begins. Water pumped through the plate heat exchanger reaches 50°C to 55°C. This temperature is then efficiently maintained in a well insulated storage tank.

Animal welfare

Hot water from heat recovery can be used to clean the barn and improve the cows’ hygienic conditions. The heated water in the storage tank can also be mixed with cold water. The lukewarm water can be used to clean udders before milking, as drinking water for cows and calves during winter time and in milk powder preparation for calf feeding.

Farm profitability

The system lowers both cooling and heating costs. A farm with 200 cows uses approximately 150 liters of hot water and 500 liters of lukewarm water in its daily routine. The yearly electricity consumption to meet this demand without a heat recovery system is 13 200 kWh. With our system this figure drops to 2 000 kWh. So by using the heat recovery system on a farm this size, you could save 11 200 kWh of electricity per year.

Environment

Saves energy by significantly reducing the electricity needed to heat water.

Social responsibility

No extra labor is needed for daily adjustments and the system only needs minimal space. The recovered warm water can be used for showers or washing hands.

Scroll compressor

A more energy efficient scroll compressor than piston compressor which reduces the power needed for cooling milk.

Animal welfare

It works more quietly than a comparable piston unit, so there is less noise to disturb nearby cows.

Farm profitability

Save on electric power bills with an energy-efficient scroll compressor. Reduce service costs due to fewer technical failures than conventional compressors.

Environment

Cools milk efficiently, consuming less electricity per liter of cooled milk.

Social responsibility

As a scroll compressor works more quietly than a comparable piston unit, making the working environment better.

Fresh 25 detergent

This is a chlorinated alkaline detergent for cleaning milking installations and milk tanks at 40˚C, instead of the 80˚C that conventional detergents need.

Animal welfare

Farm profitability

Cooler water can be used, for a less hazardous cleaning routine.

Environment

Fresh 25 saves energy as it cleans with cooler water than traditional cleaners. It is phosphate free, biodegradable and gentle on the milking equipment.

Social responsibility

Cooler water can be used, for a less hazardous cleaning routine.

Zone™ detergent

One-step detergent and acidifier for pipeline/bulk tanks, Zone™ saves time, water, energy and costs since you can skip the pre-cleaning routine, reducing the four step cleaning, used e.g. in the US and Canada, can be cut to three steps.

Animal welfare

The time Zone™ saves in cleaning the pipeline and bulk tanks can be used for more thorough washing. This reduces bacterial spread and lowers levels of udder infection, and so improves cow health and milk quality.

Farm profitability

Zone™ saves time and energy: less gas or electricity is needed to heat water as less water is used. Reduces waste water: lower costs of waste water disposal.

Environment

Saves energy, uses less water and produces less waste water.

 Social responsibility

Zone™ offers more flexibility in setting up wash programs. It reduces time spent cleaning, and improves safety since combining two cleaning steps reduces detergent handling and minimizes the risk of errors. 

Wash down system

Barn cleaning system that can re-use water recycled from cleaning the milking machine, or rainwater collected from the barn roof.

Animal Welfare

Daily manure cleaning of rotaries, parlors, alleys, gateways and waiting areas improves cow hoof health by securing clean, hygienic surfaces where animals walk or stand.

Farm Profitability

An example: in a European stall with 200 cows, savings as a percentage of total consumption can reach 56% and savings per year in volume: 175 cubic meters.

Environment

Reusing rinsing water reduces water use, and reduces waste water: less to move from manure storage to field, less energy used to shift it, fewer disposal problems.

Social responsibility

Providing a clean working environment in milking areas is more hygienic for milkers. Moderate water pressure (5.5 bar) enable more efficient cleaning – and saves time at the same time as it is used to gently clean milking equipment and installations.

Optifeeding™ system

DeLaval Optifeeding™ system provides modules for automated preparation and distribution of total mixed rations, TMR. Optimat™ is the part that prepares the feed Concentrate and TMR systems can be separate or combined. Your herd will benefit from better nutrition: a better TMR feed mix and higher intake from frequent deliveries – improving productivity and herd health. In addition the system can cut waste losses by up to 50%.

Animal Welfare

More frequent feeding provided improves cow health, increasing the cow activity, and their dry matter intake and the milk yield.

Farm profitability

More frequent feeding means the animals leave less feed resulting, and up to 5% less feed is needed. The automation saves time and reduces labor costs. Optimat™ can save up to 48 min / day for 200 cow herd. As the system is electrical and does not rely on the use of a tractor for the mixing it reduces energy costs. 

Environment

Reducing feed waste means energy savings.

Social responsibility

Automation reduces the labor needed for feeding, providing more flexibility in the working day.

Udder hygiene

Using standard preventive practices is an important part of mastitis control. DeLaval offers 3 formulas that have been optimized to have a low environmental impact. They are Prima, Biofoam and Blockade. The two first are mostly made up of natural and food based ingredients.

Animal welfare

Cows benefit from the microbiological effectiveness of DeLaval Prima and its soothing emollients for teat softening.

Biofoam helps to keep the cows’ teats soft, healthy and hygienic.

Blockade also disinfects teats and smoothes the teat skin.

Farm profitability

Proper udder hygiene avoids costs and losses related to mastitis. 

Environment

Prima is a hydrogen peroxide teat dip. Its active substance peroxide degrades to oxygen and water in the milk and in the environment.

Biofoam is a pre-milking cleaning foam based on mostly biodegradable ingredients (lactic acid, alcohols, water).

Blockade is very efficient whilst the iodine concentration (0.25%) is low compared with standard 0.5% products.

Social responsibility

In some parts of the world there is a growing concern about food safety. Consequently it is very important that udder hygiene solutions such as teat dips do not leave any residues; like inhibiting substances, in the milk.

The udder hygiene solutions have achieved formal certification as “allowed for use in organic farming in specific countries”. The products are compliant with the required regulations for udder health products.

DeLaval automated footbath AFB1000

Automatically fill, dose, flush and replenish. This helps to maintain operational efficiency – while addressing the key challenges of traditional footbath operations.

Animal welfare

This automation overcomes the risk of poorly maintained footbaths spreading diseases from cow to cow, and ineffective programs failing to prevent or reduce hoof disease in your herd.

Consistently correct dosing of chemicals and water together with automated changing of liquids according to preset time plan and the herd size and cow traffic ensure that the bath always has the right mix.

Farm profitability

Each case of lameness can cost up to an estimated US$ 345 or € 250, according to ZinPro, due to lost milk production, treatment, labor costs and culling seriously lame cows.

Environment

Reduced water consumption since the design using stainless steel baths and low water levels requires less water than conventional concrete alternatives.

The automation and the programming makes sure that only as much water and chemicals as needed is used as it helps avoid overflowing and as the changing of liquids is done according preset time plan.

Social responsibility

The flexibility in programming the pro-logic system controller makes the work at the farm easier as it allows you to customize this automated footbath to fit your operation’s schedules.

You can use one or two footbaths simultaneously, to maximize system cleaning and filling. This also gives you the flexibility to use rotational hoof treatment routines.