THINGS to CONSIDER with Automated Calf

Feeders

Neil Anderson Elora, Ontario

neil.anderson@ontario.ca

OABP November 14, 2012

Practice in EvolutionAdapting to the High Tech World

EVOLUTION…calf rearing

•well-being of calves•regulatory requirement•industry expectation•continuous improvement

•20% of body weight•suckling•group housing

our contribution?

•expectations•results

•excellent to unacceptable

•calf health programs

ADAPTINGPRACTICE

to TECHNOLOGY

design conceptsdesign concepts

abandoned automated feeder

abandoned automated feeder

….calf rearing withautomated feeders

SEVEN THINGSto CONSIDER

1.screening2.interview / observe3.show me 4.identify opportunities5.greater detail6.plans / timelines7.date for review

a (RAMP-like) tool for •identifying opportunities•improvement•maintaining success

CALVES & RECORDS

conditioncondition scalesscales

SCREENING

X

X

XX

X

compliments GEA websitecompliments GEA website

MILK FEEDING PRACTICES

feeding plans…a comparison

PROGRAMMING•P1 – 5L – 6L/d ~ 7 days•P2 – 6L – 8L/d ~10 days•P3 – 8L/d ~29 days •P4 - 8L – 2L/d ~14 days•1.8L / meal

•pre-programmed•20 – 25% of body weight•intake - nature’s way

Everything should be madeas simple as possible,

but no simpler

X

XX

PROGRAMMING•P1 – 3L/meal

– 12L/day~ 39 days

•P2 – 12L – 0L/d – 14 days

clean float, powder outletclean float, powder outlet

weigh powderweigh powder measure watermeasure water

• measure water• weigh powder• compare to computer• adjust as needed• look for reasons

mixing ratio

automated

• time• weight• frequency

load cell

new

INSTALLATION

conveniencesconveniences

parallel / simultaneousForster-Technik

peristalticpump

parallelUrban

level controlled

•faster acceptance•easier training•decreased time / meal •less lineups

simultaneous access & feeding

separatefeeding stations

parallelUrban

parallel…increased intakes

…loitering…bullying

• daily allowance• meal size• flow rate• station design• collapsed nipple• age distribution

polite

feeding stalls

videovideo

videovideo

ELECTRICAL Grounding•refusal•hesitant•low intakes•sickness

•autofeeder•water line•to main panel

operator comfort & convenience

warm room +warm room +

SANITATION / CLEANING

stationsstationsautofeederautofeeder mixermixer

design

nipples over gutternipples over gutter

flies & catsflies & cats

•stalls, floors•cleaning ease•wet pens•floor drains

gutter - ratsgutter - rats

…designed todiscourage cleaning

• no water hose• no sloped floor• no floor drains• no slobber cups• no sink / warm water• hand wash weekly• bucket to dump• building inspector

challenges

designcold barn

warm roomcold barn

warm room

recessed insidewarm room

recessed insidewarm room

curbs &floor draincurbs &

floor drainwash line into

floor drainwash line into

floor drain

•cold & freezing•dust & dirt•electronics•clean room

…designed for ease

• water hose• sloped floor• floor drains• pig slats• slobber cups• hoses daily• new hoses• new nipples

water

videovideo

HOUSING / GROUPING / FEEDS

OPPORTUNITIES

•higher scores•orange or red•investigate in greater detail

PLANS & DATES

achieve BCSof 4 at 28 days of age

verify doublingbirth weightat 56 days age

decreasebottle-feedingdays; 10 to 5

SEVEN THINGSto CONSIDER

1.screening2.interview / observe3.show me 4.identify opportunities5.greater detail6.plans / timelines7.date for review

a (RAMP-like) tool for •identifying opportunities•continuing improvement•maintaining success

THINGS to CONSIDER with Automated Calf

Feeders

Neil Anderson Elora, Ontario

neil.anderson@ontario.ca

OABP November 14, 2012

Practice in EvolutionAdapting to the High Tech World