What is CowLab TM? The unique research environment that utilizes latest technology in milk production

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1 CowLabTM

2 What is CowLab TM? The unique research environment that utilizes latest technology in milk production Data on behavior, health, physiology and production

3 Latest technology in use Wireless rumination, activity, heat monitoring and portable progesterone tester Extensive measurements of individual cows parameters Location, feeding, activity, health parameters, production Barn environment monitoring Temperature, moisture, lighting, gases Large databanks for data mining

4 Research barn Basic facts Space for 120 dairy cows, loose housing system Milking parlor for 2 8 cows, herring bone No space for heifers Additional equipment for research purposes: Individual feed intake can be measured at the feeding stations as well as through forage/tmr weighing troughs Possibility to feed different forages and concentrates as well combination of those at the same time Automated rail feeders can be programmed to fill with feed from four different filling units 5 feeding stations for concentrate, in each 3 different concentrates can be fed 12 tied-up housing places for more individual studies The cows have access to pasture via an electronic gate MTT Agrifood Research Finland 4

5 Present topics of dairy research The feeding trials with dairy cows produce knowledge about either single feedstuffs influence on milk production or form a basis for different feeding strategies as a whole. Sustainable animal production Promoting the health of the cattle and in that way the profitability in every stage of the production Sustainable feeding intensity Harvest time strategies for grass silages Energy and protein supplementation with different digestible grass silage MTT Agrifood Research Finland 5

6 CowLab TM technology - Feeding data Insentec Roughage Intake Control system (RIC) Insentec bins measure individual cow s roughage intake and feeding time. System enables feeding of different kind of roughage types simultaneously. Nedap Lactivator Nedap Lactivator concentrate feeder measures individual cow s concentrate intake and feeding time. Additionally cow s weight is registered during visits in the feeder. RumiWatch noseband sensors Noseband sensors measure cow s eating, rumination and drinking time (minutes per hour). Collection of raw data is also possible at 10 Hz frequency. Holm & Laue calf feeder Maa- ja elintarviketalouden tutkimuskeskus

7 CowLab TM technology - Activity data RumiWatch pedometers Pedometers measure cow s lying, standing and walking time (minutes per hour). Collection of raw data is also possible with 10 Hz frequency. Nedap Lactivator Pedometer measures activity, heat detection. TrackLab positioning system TrackLab system enables real time tracking of individual cows up to accuracy of 30 cm. Cows movements can be visualized on the floor plan of the barn. RuminAct Cows activity and health warnings, heat detection. Rumination time. Maa- ja elintarviketalouden tutkimuskeskus

8 CowLab TM technology - Others Gaitwise system (ILVO, Belgium) Gaitwise system is a walkway that automatically detects lameness. Gaitwise measurements are not continuous but made once or twice a week. Accelerometers Ability to collect acceleration data on cow s movements and distinguish different behaviour patterns. Progesterone analyzers progesterone levels in milk, heat detection, pregnancy confirmation Rumen ph - Rumen ph and temperature measurements can reveal health related disorders Polar Equine RS800CX Science Short term heart rate and heart rate variability measurements for health and stress indication Agrimonitor Calving prediction Electronic milk meters - Milk yield and flow, sample taking ASAN Professional Automated surveillance system and video recording with four Axis Q1755-E, one Axis 211A and three Axis 215 cameras Media Recorder Video recording system with cameras above, compatible with Observer XT Observer XT Tool for behavioral observations

9 Research topics around CowLab TM

10 Field crop research Grassland production Crop physiology Adaptation of grasses to climate change Efficient use of nutrients: N, P, K, S Use of different kind of manures on grassland Harvesting strategies for silage Use of herbicide on grassland + reseeding Yield determination and nutrient balances Variety trials MTT Agrifood Research Finland 10

11 Grassland & environment research Nutrient cycling on pasture N, P Surface run off of P Efficient P utilization Nitrogen leaching from reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinaceae) canopy on the lysimeter field Effect of grassland management on nutrient load to inland waters 3 different scales 11

12 Grassland & Environment research - three different scales Surface runoff simulator 0.33 m 2 rapid, several treatments on the same time development on the way 100 m Field scale lysimeter 100 m 2 & surface runoff plots 400 m 2 farm scale management Small catchment scale 3 km 2 Continuous flow measurement & water sampling MTT Agrifood Research Finland 12

13 Farm-scale biogas plant 300 m 3 CSTR digester m 3 postdigestion tank Methane production m 3 /year ( MWh/y) Automatic solids feeder for plant biomass (0 350 t/year) Slurry pumped from pre-storage tank (3500 m 3 /year) Technical space 20 kw el + 43 kw th CHP 80 kw th boiler Energy production MWh/year Net energy production MWh/y (used in the cow house & other buildings) Photo: Ville Pyykkönen MTT Agrifood Research Finland

14 Farm-scale biogas plant research Practical solutions for agricultural biogas plants Suitable co-substrates Plant biomass (e.g. grass silage, reed canary grass) Operational optimisation (e.g. retention times, loading, feeding intervals, mixing, maintenance) Energy balance of the biogas plant From methane to electricity and heat to be used in the plant and outside the plant (aim: miximisation of the latter) Holistic management (from manure collection in cowhouse to digestate use on fields) Digestate as fertiliser Field experiments Comparisons between e.g. mineral fertiliser, raw manure, raw digestate and mechanically separated digestate Focus especially on grass production Minimisation of emissions in field use, e.g. injection into soil MTT Agrifood Research Finland

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