It’s all systems go for the world’s leading livestock trade fair as EuroTier makes a welcome return to Hanover in Germany this November after being cancelled due to Covid-19, writes Chris McCullough.
Held every two years, EuroTier attracts over 150,000 visitors from around the world to see the latest innovations dedicated for livestock husbandry and welfare.
The 2020 event had to be cancelled due to the pandemic but organisers DLG say it has prepared quite a comeback event to ensure livestock farmers are keep at the forefront of new product development. Albeit lower than normal, there will be 1,700 exhibitors from 55 countries attending EuroTier this time around in Hanover from November 15 to 18.
Here are five of the latest innovations for the pig sector:
Gold medal award
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica – Soundtalks
Dutch company Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (main picture) won gold for its SoundTalks system that continuously analyses the respiratory health status of pigs during rearing and fattening.
The monitors installed in the pens, each of which is equipped with six microphones, register all noises and are able to distinguish coughing noises from other noises with the aid of an algorithm. Since the system records 24 hours a day, it is also able to register the intensity of coughing during the resting phase.
It can then indicate the problem to the farmer via a traffic light system directly in the pen or by means of an app on the smartphone.
Silver Medal Awards
Holscher + Leuschner – optiMarker
The optiMarker is a marking station with an optical scale for fattening pigs. A new, innovative 3D camera is used to precisely determine the animals’ weight, and the animals are automatically marked with spray paint on reaching certain threshold values.
The optical and marking units are small and portable, and can be inserted into simple brackets in different pens as required. This use in multiple pens also enables the compilation of groups from various pens.
The measurements can additionally be stored in a central database during fattening to enable information concerning the fattening performance of individual animals (with an optional RFID antenna) or the group to be provided.
MIK International – Thermo
MIK International has developed an innovative approach to immediately identify an optimised piglet nest temperature quickly and visually. To achieve this, the visible upper sides of the floor heating system elements are coated with reversible thermochromatic pigments that change colour at pre-specified minimum or maximum temperatures. This new method of easily and visually monitoring the surface temperature of a floor heating system enables the operator to determine very quickly whether a possible fault is present.
Big Dutchman International – OlliGES robot
With the OlliGES bedding robot, Big Dutchman has developed technology that offers an approach to reducing bedding quantities.
The intelligent robot independently decides where and how much bedding has to be introduced. At the same time, the OlliGES robot also undertakes completely automated bedding application in the desired locations.
This is based on an evaluation run during the night by the OlliGES bedding robot. Possible influences caused by sunlight are therefore absent or minimised.
Infrared lighting is used to produce an image of the pen with consistent quality. At the end of the evaluation run, the image material is analysed and the bedding decision necessary for the next 24 hours is made.
Meier-Brakenberg – Lifty
Meier-Brakenberg has made the Lifty to ease the strain of pulling slurry scrapers or removing slurry plugs. It consists of a tripod frame with conically arranged legs that are screwed into the technology box located above.
The box contains an electric winch that can raise a load up to one metre and which is operated using commercially available rechargeable batteries.
The Lifty is positioned above the slurry plug to be removed or the scraper to be pulled or is supported, in the case of wall-mounted slurry stoppers, by its own weight after one leg has been unscrewed.