New calf feeders launched
DeLaval has launched two new calf feeders that will be on show at the National Ploughing Championships from September 16th to 18th. The CF600C and the CF1100C feature a new transparent hopper, LED status indicator and a new fly screen. Both feeders can also connect via WIFI to DeLaval’s DelPro system and a new Calf Cloud app.
“Dairy farms can check on feeding efficiency in real time using the Calf Cloud App. This can be on a phone, tablet or computer from anywhere in the world. The data from the feeders is also shared with DelPro to enable farms to compare feed intake with growth rate and cow health indicators,” says DeLaval’s Ludo Bols.
The two new models replace the outgoing CF500 and CF1000 feeders and have been designed to improve feeding efficiency, hygiene and ease of operation. Both the CF600C and CF1100C can be used to feed replacer and fresh milk.
“Both models have a handy LED working light to show farmers when the feeder is in operation. We have also improved the fly screen which forms a plastic vacuum and has been designed to be easier to open and close,” says Mr Bols.
The LED light has four colours showing if the feeder is connected to WIFI, and three levels of alert from blue to green and yellow.
For farms not able to operate the feeders with an internet connection there is a handheld terminal that can be specified as an optional extra and enables feeding data to be viewed and downloaded. Each feeder can also be fitted with an optional 10-inch touch screen display.
“The big shift is in the connectivity of these new feeders. With the Calf Cloud App, the user can retrieve individual calf data, review feeding plans, remove alarms and instruct extra portions in real time,” he says.
The feeder automatically recognises calves using transponder tags. This enables it to adapt the feed for each calf and report back consumption. The CF600C can feed a maximum of 50 calves and the CF1100C can feed 120 with portion sizes of 0.25 litres and 0.5 litres respectively.
“DeLaval Plus, a data sharing system, can also be integrated to use data from the feeder to evaluate calf health, create individual feeding plans and monitor the speed of intake,” says Mr Bols.
DeLaval also offers a range of additional products including HygieneBox which has circulation cleaning to clean the outside of the teats and surrounding areas after each feed. CalfRail can be added to the CF1100C model to enable the feeder to run along a rail and feed calves in individual housing using a robotic arm. A further optional extra is a concentrate feeder which can be linked using DeLaval Plus to adjust the amount of concentrate being fed remotely.
“Providing connectivity to calf feeders will enable farms to better manage feed intake and calf health. Having all the data available through the app in real time will reduce the time it takes to make adjustments, and having the data shared through DeLaval Plus will make decision-making much easier,” concludes Mr Bols.
N.B The new calf feeder will be available to view on the DeLaval stand, block 2, row 5, stand number 114.