Automatic cattle feeding solutions
Reduced energy and labor costs, increased environmental sustainability, and improved animal health and welfare. These are the multiple benefits offered by so-called "Automatic Feeding Systems"
Among the main technological innovations spreading in Italian livestock farms, the Automatic Feeding System (AFS) stands out for its many advantages. Besides milking, which is undoubtedly time-consuming and labor-intensive (which is why robots are spreading rapidly), in cattle breeding, the preparation and subsequent distribution of the ration at the trough is another very time-consuming activity since the different groups of animals must receive individualized diets, based on their growth stage and productive condition, with the need therefore to prepare multiple mixes, to be distributed to the different areas of the barn.
Ration preparation is usually done with a mixer wagon, which distributes it daily (or at most twice a day) to the animals. The part not ingested is returned to the rack. This operation is performed on a few occasions during the day. On the contrary, the possibility of having a robot capable of automatically distributing the food in the rack proves to be an optimal choice for the animals. That is because it allows the food to be administered in smaller quantities and a significantly more frequent manner, with greater balance in the ingestion and with a better quality of the ingredients, which in this way do not undergo oxidation, fermentation, etc., especially in the case of high ambient temperatures. In fact, with a robot, up to 8-12 deployments per day can be made with no increase in the cost of dedicated labor. As a matter of fact, the integration of robots within farm routines allows for optimizing the efficiency of processing cycles: the longer the time for which they are used, the greater are also the benefits to the productivity of the farm business. From the dietary point of view, fresh ingredients are obviously a guarantee of higher quality, with certain and consistent nutritional characteristics. This results in greater dry matter ingestion and maintenance of ruminal pH in optimal conditions, with a reduction in typical diseases, such as acidosis, all to the benefit of efficient energy transformation of the ration into milk or meat. Moreover, frequent feed distribution also reduces competitiveness among animals and time spent standing, which benefits health and welfare. Among other things, there is general evidence of reduced waste left in the trough, with decreased waste. Obviously, the environmental aspect is not to be neglected since, through the use of feeding robots-electrically powered-it becomes possible to lower polluting emissions. Of course, electricity consumption increases, but in this case it is possible to take advantage of the possible self-production of renewable energy, often implemented on livestock farms, produced, for example, with an anaerobic digestion plant or with photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the barn.
By far, the overwhelming reason hindering the spread of these automatic feeding systems is the high initial investment. As an indication, the cost is 1,000-2,500 euros/head, to which must be added the burden of any operations in the "room" where feed is stored, and rations are prepared, the so-called kitchen.
The upper limit of the range refers to numerically limited herds, given the greater burden of fixed costs. However, considering energy and labor savings, quantified at about 95 percent and 80 percent, respectively, compared to conventional feeding systems, SFA still results in an overall savings of about 30 percent in total feeding costs.
Technology solutions
A wide range of robotic systems is available on the market, featuring varying levels of automation. They range from a basic combination, with manual loading and automated mixing and distribution, to an advanced level, with food retrieval directly from storage and loading into the wagon automatically. On the other hand, the intermediate systems involve an operator-managed kitchen, which loads some specific ingredients, while the basic ingredients (e.g., chopped corn and hay) are picked up automatically by cutting the product stored in the silo, with subsequent mixing in the wagon. In more detail, cutting from the front is performed by cutters or shovels and makes use of electronic management devices to control the quantity taken, thanks to strain gauge load cells built into the wagon that weigh the products with high accuracy. Similar to the chopping-mixing wagons, full recipe management is provided, with weighing of the other liquid and mineral components of the ration. Then, mixing occurs in the wagon, controlled through a digital screen on board the machine. Distribution in the trough follows a predetermined path, with the wagon moving via wheels mounted on axles with differential to facilitate maneuvering in aisles of any width.
With this combination, the only task remaining for the operator is loading the kitchen every 2-5 days (via a simple shovel) with the specific ingredients that make up the ration. Thus, this solution significantly reduces the use of labor.
Besides the traditional models suitable for herds of about 1,000 heads, models suitable for small- to medium-sized farms of just a few hundred heads have also appeared on the market to facilitate the spread of automatic feeding robots. Solutions capable of handling the simultaneous operation of multiple wagons have also been developed for faster operation.
The market
DeLaval's Optimat is based on the OptiWagon distribution wagon, managed by the DelPro Farm Manager full automation system. Similarly, Trioliet's Triomatic stands out for its simplicity, requiring minimal maintenance and very low energy consumption of 0.1 kWh/head day, based on a herd of about 100 heads. Lely's Vector has similar features and a safety sensor system for barn handling. In all three cases above, up to 12 distributions/day can be activated for each feeding group. An interesting feature is that distribution times can be defined at will throughout the day, favoring more convenient times for feeding the herd, such as the least hot hours in summer or the least cold hours in winter.
Among the available models, it is also possible to opt for different energy supply systems for the wagon, i.e., a battery (which is recharged during mixing) or an elevated electrified track.
The capacity of the distribution wagons is variable, generally ranging from 3 to 5 m³; similar to mixer wagons, the box is made of stainless steel, ensuring cleanliness, strength and durability. A complementary application of the wagons is to bring feedback to the trough during the return to the kitchen or with "empty" runs during the day.
In the case of manual kitchen loading, a series of bins or spaces dedicated to each ingredient is installed. Specifically, the bins can be filled with hayed product bales or silage product blocks; of course, the bins must be covered to ensure the integrity of the product, which could otherwise be damaged (e.g., by weather). The bins are adjacent so that picking by cutting and subsequent transport to the wagon of all ingredients is easier. The kitchen requires dedicated space in the barn, with a careful preliminary assessment of available areas for each production context. Conversely, if fully automated technologies are used, there is no need to provide a space for the kitchen set-up.
