GEA Farm Technologies - The right choice.

Issue 12

September 2009HerdAbout?HerdAbout?

1 | GEA Farm Technologies

GEA Farm Technologies is launched in the UK

GEA Farm Technologies, our new global name, whose technology is used to produce a staggering one quarter of all the world’s milk, is launched in the UK.

Bringing together the expertise of market leaders such as WestfaliaSurge® (renowned for its dairy parlour systems), Houle (for its slurry handling equipment), Agroserve® (with its extensive portfolio of dairy and animal hygiene products), and (recently added to the group) Royal DeBoer barn equipment, the GEA Group has formed GEA Farm Technologies to emphasise and focus the companies’ combined expertise and product innovations under one of the strongest process engineering brand identities in the world.

Farmers throughout the UK are now able to source the most up-to-date and complete dairy farm systems, with top experts, equipment and technology programmes from just one market leading supplier. We are supported by a dedicated network of local dealers nationwide, offering 24-hour spare parts and on-farm service, 365 days per year and all with a proven, second-to-none, reputation.

Paul Gerrard, GEA Farm Technologies UK, managing director, says “We have amalgamated a level of global expertise and product innovations to offer a tremendous choice of individual customer-specific system solutions, such as has never before been witnessed by the UK farming community. We are motivated by the vision of a team that has already produced plant and equipment to

manufacture roughly one third of the world’s instant coffee and half of all beer is likely to have passed through at least one of our Group company’s components. Our goal at GEA Farm Technologies is to use our specialist skills, in partnership with dealers and their farmers, to help produce consistently high quality milk, improve overall productivity, reduce costs, increase profitability, minimise waste, reduce impact on the environment and provide consistent animal welfare.”

“This is not just a change of names,” continues Paul Gerrard, “GEA Farm Technologies is able to meet the challenges that lie before the industry and support this with its multi billion Euros Group turnover, international manufacturing bases and extensive R&D facilities. It is difficult to believe the scope and capability of some of the new products and systems we will be launching this year alone. With our help”, he concludes, “the future for dairy farming is looking promising.”

Charging their way to the latest innovations in the dairy industry, the GEA Farm Technologies’ “herd”, led by a bright corporate green and orange cow, are providing exciting, eye catching images that are being replicated on dealer vehicle livery and in posters, displays, advertising, literature, exhibitions, promotions, presentations and demonstrations worldwide. You may have already seen them on some of our recent publicity here in the UK and on UK dealers’ vans that are already working their way across the UK countryside!

Inside this issue:

Dairy Event sees MIone launched in the UK

Page 2

The secret of success with AMSPage 2

GEA hat-trick for RABDF/NMR Gold Cup winners

Page 3

Feature article - “Future Proof” - milk 2 go at Bonnyhill Farm, Falkirk

Pages 4-7

IQ - a new way to milkPage 8

Backflush - a key component of a new 6-point plan?

Page 8

Recover wasted energy with ExtraHeat

Page 9

AutoRotor PerFormer - a new revolution in rotary parlour design

Page 9

Super Pump gets first showingPage 10

Introducing SRone - our robot for cleaning cubicle passageways

Page 10

Have you encountered any of our charging cows?

Rear cover

GEA Farm Technologies / Contents

The right choice. | 2

Dairy Event sees MIone launched in the UKThe Dairy Event sees the launch of our totally new type of automatic milking system: MIone

MIone

Based on a multi-box design that can be expanded for larger herds, from one box up to a five-box system. The compact size and modular box configuration allows existing barns to be converted for maximum throughput or new barns to be designed for future expansion.

As the cow enters the stall, the milking robot, which has a built-in 3D camera incorporating unique computerised locating technology, detects and identifies the exact shape and location of each teat. A mechanical arm then automatically attaches the milking cups.

Each teat is spray cleaned, stimulated and then milked to its optimum level, without the cup leaving the teat. The teat cups detach in turn, independently of the robotic arm, and the cow leaves the box. The whole process is recorded for herd management control. Animals that need attention

can be instantly identified and segregated if necessary.

As each cow quickly and naturally learns to use the system to meet her own comfort needs, there is no fixed milking time and the milking process becomes continuous and consistent. This significantly increases the time available to the herdsman for managing his cows and attending to foot, metabolic, fertility and other issues that will diminish productivity if not dealt with immediately.

A single milking robot can operate on up to 5 stalls. This means that additional low cost stall units can be added to meet herd expansion requirements.

The MIone features built-in automatic cow and milk hygiene systems with one delivery line direct to the bulk tank. A dump line means that unsuitable milk can be separated automatically.

Come and see MIone on our stand (EH2-216) at the Dairy Event

MIone, from GEA Farm Technologies is based on a multi-box design which can be expanded to meet any sized herd. The in-built 3-D camera incorporates unique computerised locating technologies that allow the robot to identify the exact shape and location of each teat.

The secret of success with AMSfrom an article by Christian Mueller, GEA WestfaliaSurge GmbH, published in International Dairy Topics Volume 8 Number 3

Flexible working, labour-saving, greater independence and freedom to spend more time doing other things are the key reasons cited for farmers investing in an automatic milking system (AMS). But why are these targets not always achieved?

With AMS time is critical and anything that disturbs the standard milking routine will decrease the capacity of the system. “Special needs” cows can be a major factor in this respect. For AMS systems these will include “weak cows” - heifers

and low-ranked cows that are often bullied by the rest of the herd and may avoid entering the milking robot - as well as cows with foot, metabolic and fertility probems, injuries and mastitis, fresh calvers and cows requiring other treatments.

To reap the benefits of automatic milking it is important to clearly organise the management of the “special needs” cows and minimise their effect on the rest of the herd. For a successful system it will probably be necessary to reorganise the barn so

that, for example, calving, special needs and treatment areas are sited close to the milking centre so that walking distances for these cows are kept as short as possible.

It is not enough simply to replace a parlour with a robot. Installing an AMS involves a completely new concept of milking that affects all parts of the dairy and needs careful planning. For further information read the full article in International Dairy Topics Vol 8 No 3, visit our stand at the Dairy Event or contact us on 01908 589600.

3 | GEA Farm Technologies

We would like to congratulate David, Nick and Polly Cobb of JF Cobb & Sons, whose attention to detail and team work helped their pedigree Chalclyffe herd win the coveted 2008 RABDF /NMR Gold Cup. We are extremely proud that they and the two previous winners, Ian Macalpine of Laneside Farm in 2007 and Grosvenor Farms Ltd in 2006, all operate WestfaliaSurge® milking parlour systems. We were pleased to hold a dinner to celebrate this achievement on the evening prior to the highly successful and well-attended Open Day held at the Cobb’s Northground Dairy, West Chaldon Farm, Dorchester on 2nd June 2009.

Along with David, Nick and Polly Cobb, Ian Macalpine and Mark Roach (Grosvenor Farms Ltd),

Gold Cup success

Lyndon Edwards (Chairman) and Nick Everington (Chief Executive) led the representation from the RABDF and Jonathan Davies (National Field Manager) represented NMR. Nick Green from Highwood the Dairy Centre also attended as well as some of our own staff members.

Paul Gerrard, Managing Director of GEA Farm Technologies Ltd, commented “We were delighted to host this celebration as all three winners are highly valued customers, the common and most important link being that they all milk using our parlours and all have expressed satisfaction with our systems, some of which have been in constant operation on these prize winning farms for more than 12 years.”

GEA hat-trick for RABDF/NMR Gold Cup winners

West Chaldon Farm - home of the 2008 Gold Cup winners JF Cobb & Sons’ Northground Dairy herd

Guests of honour at a special dinner to celebrate that the latest and previous two winners of the RABDF/NMR Gold Cup all operate WestfaliaSurge® milking parlours from GEA Farm Technologies were (right to left, bottom row) Mark Roach of Grosvenor Farms Ltd, David, Polly and Nick Cobb of JF Cobb & Sons and Ian Macalpine of Laneside Farm. Also in attendance were Paul Gerrard , David Wenner, JP Dorgan and Tom Rowland of GEA Farm Technologies Ltd, Nick Green of Highwood the Dairy Centre, Laura Dickinson, Nick Everington, Lyndon Edwards and Tom Rabbetts of RABDF and Jonathan Davies of NMR

The right choice. | 4

“Future Proof” milk2go at Bonnyhill Farm, FalkirkIn spite of volatile market conditions, the recent installation of a new 50 point external subway style rotary milking parlour in one of Scotland’s most successful independent dairies sees the dawn of ambitious ‘future proof’ expansion plans for John Pollock & Sons Ltd. Managing Director Ronald Pollock told us about his business, the investment in his parlour and how it fits in with his plans for the future.

Feature article - Bonnyhill Farm

“My grandfather came to Bonnyhill Farm in 1920 as a tenant farmer, having been previously employed as a ploughman on a neighbouring farm.

“Struggling to make ends meet on what was a poor moorland farm, he began dairying. The milk was taken in churns by horse and cart to the local Co-operative Dairy, and this worked well up until the 1930’s, before the Milk Marketing Board was set up, when he was frequently told his milk was not needed.

“Disillusioned by having to tip the milk down the drain, he then decided to take milk churns, down the local streets and sell milk direct to the customers by the jug full, and here the retail business was born.

“In 1954, my late father and mother took over the tenancy at Bonnyhill, continuing the dairy and retail business. By 1962, they had a family of six who were all keen on farming, and with all of them looking for work this prompted the expansion of the retail business, more dairy cows and eventually more land to support the extra stock. Now in 2009, we find ourselves expanding for slightly

different reasons, but mainly to keep up with the demand for our farm fresh “milk 2 go” brand and to improve overall efficiency.

“Despite my parents philosophy of being as self sufficient as possible, in the 1970’s and 1980’s, when cereals were more profitable, we moved toward growing more marketable crops, including malting barley, wheat and oil seed rape, and relied more on imported and bought in commodities for the dairy herd.

“However, with wheat and barley prices dropping by as much as £120 per tonne recently, and the straights market being extremely volatile, we have changed back to growing crops we can utilise on farm and turn into meat or milk - two foods that I believe will always be needed to feed our growing population.

“The business now runs over 2000 acres, stretching 35 miles from the dairy farm unit, giving us a variety of

soil types and crop options. Currently, 950 acres are used for wheat, barley (including whole crop barley), oats, beans, peas, Lucerne, fodder beet and three cuts of grass silage, which is grown to support to the 300 cow Holstein Friesian dairy herd, 550 dairy followers and beef cattle.

“We run a closed herd, rearing all our own replacements, with extra heifers already on the ground to increase our dairy herd size to between 400 and 450. All beef calves are being taken to finishing as Holstein Friesian bulls or Continental steers.

Ronald Pollock (left) and William Pollock

Mrs Pollock, Ronald’s mother, at work in the kitchen

Allan (left) and Jim Pollock loading the delivery van

5 | GEA Farm Technologies

Feature article - Bonnyhill Farm

“75% of the dairy herd is AI’d with Holstein Friesian bulls, such as Bolton, Dolman, Samuelo, Buckleys and Design, and for the maiden heifers, sexed semen from Hatley, Loader and Baroque. The rest of the herd goes to the Simmental or Limousin bull.

“DIY AI is carried out by the dairyman, achieving 65% conception rate to 1st service at an average of 90 days in milk, and 70% to 2nd service at an average of 127 days in milk. The herd calving index is 399 days, with an average yield of 8,500 litres at 3.85% butterfat, 3.46% protein, SCC 120,000/ml and Bactoscan 26,000/ml

“The herd is vaccinated for BVD, Leptosporosis, IBR and currently screened for Johnnes Disease through the SAC premium cattle health scheme.

“Although increasing numbers is on our mind at present. Our main objective is to continually improve annual health and welfare, as well as the longevity of the herd, offer real traceability while minimizing food miles and our carbon footprint, all of which are becoming increasingly important to our customers.”

“Future Proof”“With the plans to increase the herd size, we knew we had to look at a new milking system, as it was taking up to 7½ hours a day on the old Trigon parlour.

“After considerable research, including visits to the WestfaliaSurge factory in Germany and various dairies overseas and in England, we finally commissioned the new state-of-the-art, external subway-style 50-point WestfaliaSurge rotary milking parlour early in 2009. This was the first of its kind to be installed in the UK. In committing to such a major investment, including new buildings, we needed to be totally convinced that we were doing the right thing, so no detail was too small or big to contemplate.

“At that time, our knowledge of this type of milking system was very limited and the scale of change seemed daunting. Our collective mind was made up when we realised exactly what was meant by the phrase ‘German efficiency, quality and experience’. The factory’s own robotised manufacturing facility was simply stunning in just about every respect, and we knew that we would have no worries over build quality. After then seeing this system in practice on other farms, our natural worries about proven functionality and fitness for purpose were assuaged! Our next concerns were about service and support.”

Service and support“Having built a good relationship with our old parlour suppliers, we were quite apprehensive about changing to our nearest WestfaliaSurge dealer, GEA DairyFlow, based some 50 miles away in Kilmarnock.

“So far, however, our doubts have proven unfounded, as the commissioning went more or less according to plan, the back-up service and support has been excellent, and the parlour is performing exactly as predicted!

“What’s more, it is our firm belief that if the parlour continues to run as

Left to right: David Douglas (Dairy Manager), John Purdie and Derek Dickson (Herdsmen)

The new 50-point AutoRotor PerFormer at Bonnyhill Farm

Milking units set up for washing in the specially designed cabinets of the AutoRotor Performer milking parlour

The right choice. | 6

smoothly as it is now (and we have no reason to expect otherwise) we will not need “on-the-doorstep” support. To date we have encountered no difficulties with speed of response, even to minor snags, and any technical issues have quickly been dealt with, entirely to our satisfaction.”

Persuading the cows!“At first our dairy manager, David Douglas and his team, John Purdie, Gillian Maconochie and Derek Dickson had a stressful time getting the herd to accept the new buildings and rotary parlour. As part of the system, a fully automatic Cowmander backing gate has been installed in the cow collecting area. This keeps the herd moving forward and helps maintain an even flow throughout the milking period.

“After being milked, the cows leave the turntable and exit through a race that incorporates a twin, fully automated chemical footbath that is designed to clean and help prevent hoof and feet problems.”

“Everything to the herd was so new and worrying! Their initial reluctance however, soon turned to obvious pleasure and before long, the cows could not wait to get on board the new ‘merry-go-round’, which led to our next operational problem!

“Once the cows were on it, they enjoyed the experience so much that

Feature article - Bonnyhill Farm

they did not want to get off! Our first attempt to solve this difficulty, by hanging an empty 5 gallon plastic drum near the parlour exit, only served to spook the herd, so we turned to our new dealer for advice and help.

“The solution turned out to be simple and very effective! For those animals not needing to, but happily wanting to go around again, we installed an airline triggered by an electric eye fixed at the final possible exit point and this blows a brief burst of air into any straggling cows face. It startles them out of their seemingly dreamy and contended cud-chewing reverie, without being truly frightened. A post milking teat dip is applied by a built-in automatic chemical spray device before cows leave the platform.

“The retention bars hold the animal in place for another revolution if for any reason their yield deviates dramatically. The entire process is touch-screen monitored and controlled by a central computer system that records production data via special electronic and highly accurate Metatron S21 flow meters. Foot Rescounters also help to identify cows on heat, whilst automatically signalling and segregating cows with special needs or health problems.”

Time and energy saved“After a few days training from GEA Farm Technologies, our dairy staff soon got the hang of managing and running the new parlour and were all delighted with the fact that milking times have been virtually halved. The whole working process is relatively easy, clean and pleasant to perform.

“We used to milk for around 7½ hours a day in our old parlour, but that has now been reduced to just over 4 hours daily in the new parlour, giving the stockmen more time to look after the herd and the cows more time to feed and produce milk.

“The new equipment and buildings are significantly larger than our old parlour, so it takes slightly longer to clean down. However, as most of the external parts that need pressure-washing can be rotated at the push of a button, the lot can be easily sprayed from a standing position in around half an hour. All internal parts are automatically washed and disinfected after every milking keeping the whole plant spotlessly clean at all times.

“The dairy itself sits alongside the farm offices, so for everyone’s sake, including cows and staff, we have had WestfaliaSurge AquaSilent vacuum pumps installed to give us a

Cows being herded into the parlour by the Cowmander backing gate in the collection yard

View of cows on the platform at milking with the milking equipment mounted under the platform

7 | GEA Farm Technologies

pleasantly quiet and environmentally friendly atmosphere in which to work and milk.

“As we pasteurise and bottle our milk all at the Bonnyhill Farm site, we also installed a 16,000-litre Kryos bulk milk tank, also supplied by our new dealer GEA DairyFlow.

“We supply direct with our own distribution fleet and so we are already achieving significant savings in milk miles. We also wanted to ensure that everything in the new dairy would be as ‘green’ as possible, so we opted to fit ExtraHeat, an innovative new energy saving system that recovers some of the energy normally lost during the milk cooling process. It then uses this energy to pre-heat the water that is needed to clean the milking parlour equipment after use, where best practice dictates washing with hot water twice per day.

“Our ambient tap water is usually between 14°C - 20°C. This new system can increase the temperature up to

Feature article - Bonnyhill Farm

50°C, thereby reducing electricity bills by as much as 50%, recovering wasted energy and at the same time helping the environment. The simple installation is fitted between the compressor and a heat recovery holding tank, prior to being fed into an installed water heater.

“It is early days yet to comment on this with any accuracy, but we are closely monitoring our energy usage and hope to achieve the manufacturer’s claim that the ExtraHeat system should pay for itself within 3 to 4 years. Whilst water in this part of the world is plentiful in supply, any savings on our energy bills will be most welcome!

“Overall, the time, convenience and experience we are gaining with this new set up are most important to the business, particularly as this leaves our staff free to concentrate more on general herd welfare, farm maintenance and management issues.

Significant increases in milk yield“One of the first things we noticed, after commissioning the parlour was an increase in milk yield by almost 250 litres per day. We believe that this is largely because the cows are spending 3½ hours less per day hanging around waiting to be milked and more time grazing and feeding.“

Educating children and other consumers pays!“As a family concern and with best farming practices in mind, we enjoy educating past, existing and future consumers. We have installed a special viewing platform above our new parlour so that visitors can see how milk is actually produced, rather than perceiving it as just something else in a plastic bottle that comes off the supermarket shelf!

“For 15 years or more we have welcomed over 30 farm educational visits a year. During this time, we have seen a remarkable change in school children’s attitudes towards drinking milk, a benefit to the dairy industry that we attribute to education and milk advertising!

“Although trends are forever changing, we believe that with our new dairy parlour and plans for the future, and a growing demand for traceability and quality food production, we hope to become as future proof as possible.”

Comfortable working conditions for dairy staff as they prepare udders and attach the clusters

High quality dairy products from Bonnyhill Farm

Backflush sanitises clusters between cows to minimise the numbers of contagious mastitis pathogens passed from cow to cow during milking and flush dirt from the liner mouth pieces.

Our new backflush system will be on display on our stand (EH2-216) at the Dairy Event. Come and have a look - it could prove a valuable component of your new 6-point plan!

The right choice. | 8

IQ Cluster / Backflush

IQ - a new way to milk

Now is the time for greater intelligence to be used with milking clusters. Now is the time for IQ - the first four-way milking cluster in the world.

The combination of maximum flexibility and optimum weight distribution ensures that your IQ is always securely adhered to your cows’ teats.

The flexible part of the short milk tube has lengthened by removing the milk nipples, and the shape has been redesigned for maximum flexibility. Everything has been done to ensure optimum adaptability regardless of the conformation of the udder!

Fine adjustment of the cluster’s centre of gravity and the new positioning of the tube connections means that your IQ is always in the correct position. The weight sits precisely where it is needed: 80% on the teats and 20% on the claw bowl.

Four ways to get better milk quality

The milk is not collected, rather • led away on an udder quarter by quarter basis.Gentle and quick discharge due • to individual tube connections for each quarter.No cross-contamination.•

Optimum milking hygieneAutomatic vacuum switch-off• Low air leakage application• No sucking-in of dirt•

Easy handlingVery easy application without air • leakageNew shape of the silicone liner• Very quick, low-force and tool-free • fitting of the teat cup liners

Visit our stand (EH2-216) at the Dairy Event to see the ground-breaking IQ Cluster for yourself.

Backflush - a key component of a new 6-point plan?The “5 point plan” is globally proven and recognized strategy for mastitis control in dairy herds but it has some limitations. Contagious bacteria (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae) can still transfer between cows at milking via milkers’ hands, udder preparation towels and in particular milking liners. It is known that Staphylococcus aureus from infected quarters can be present on liners for the next 6-8 cows milked.

The 5-point planTest and service milking • machine regularlyPost-milking teat disinfection• Treat ALL clinical cases • promptlyDry cow therapy all quarters • at drying offCull animals with chronic • infections

IQ - (Individual Quarter) the world’s first four-way milking cluster is set to revolutionise dairy farming.

9 | GEA Farm Technologies

Recover wasted energy with ExtraHeat

ExtraHeat / AutoRotor PerFormer

AutoRotor PerFormer a new revolution in rotary parlour design

Incorporating many features of the Magnum 90 platform, the AutoRotor Performer is GEA Farm Technologies’ cost effective solution for larger family businesses and large farms that need high throughput and efficiency.

The new stall design ensures the highest levels of operator and cow comfort. The unique cabinet, protects the milking equipment and jetters from physical damage and is easy to keep clean. For those requiring longer milking-out times, recycling arms keep cows on the platform for a second rotation as required. These help to maximise both parlour throughput and utilisation of the milking equipment. Warning signals prevent cows that have not milked out properly from leaving the platform.

A new control panel provides infinite adjustment of the speed and rotational direction of the platform to the desired milking speed. This means that the animals are continuously on the move to achieve maximum throughputs.

To find out more come and see us (stand EH2-216) at the Dairy Event!

Milk refrigeration works by extracting calories from milk by means of a cooling unit. The calories extracted from the milk are removed via a condenser and are lost. It is now possible to recover this energy to heat water for the dairy. To achieve this a heat exchanger containing refrigerant/water is installed in the cooling circuit between the compressor and the heat recovery holding tank.

Derek Wright of GL & DL Wright, Pritch Farm, Nantwich, Cheshire (pictured above by his 7000-litre Kryos every day bulk tank) milks 210 predominantly Friesian Holstein cows as a closed pedigree herd.

“We were completing a new WestfaliaSurge 24-unit parlour when tank specialist Peter Evans recommended ExtraHeat as good for saving energy, and thus benefiting the environment.

“I’m into that sort of thing and I now notice that milk contracts express this sort of investment, so maybe that’s also an advantage.

“Its working very well - particularly in the summer when cooling takes an extra quarter of an hour. This means the water is heated up to 61°C and I can see energy used for cooling is not entirely wasted.

“I wash my parlour with hot water twice a day using an 80- gallon water heater and whilst the ExtraHeat was an additional expense I estimate it will pay back in about 3 years.

“There is not much to go wrong with it and I’m very pleased with the system. I would recommend it to others alongside the VoD energy saving vacuum system, especially when putting in a new parlour.”

Benefits at a glanceHigh efficiency heat recovery • systemReduced energy consumption• Lower operating costs - • improved profitabilityRisk-free operation• Better for the environment• From 270 to 1080 litres• Extends compressor life• Easily fitted and serviced•

5-year warranty

option

Back in March, Exmoor Farm Services’ held an open day, at Collacott Farm, Muddiford, Devon, which was the venue for the first public demonstration of our new articulated Super Pump, designed for high speed homogenization and transfer of heavy-duty slurry containing straw, sawdust and/or sand bedding, from different levels in a pit or lagoon.

The Super Pump, which is part of our Houle range of slurry handling equipment, is particularly unusual in that it is able to handle sand and will considerably increase the capacity of sand-filled lagoons. It is also able to chop straw and its excellent mixing capability ensures a slurry output of uniform consistency and nutrient content.

Simply mounted on the three-point hitch of a suitably powered tractor (90HP minimum) @ 540 RPM, the Super Pump is capable of handling an impressive high performance throughput of up to 2500 gallons per minute of 19mm consistency slurry. It features a heavy duty, double-jointed and vibration-free drive shaft for low maintenance and long lasting, problem-free operation An extra long-life option, constructed from abrasion-resistant steel, is also available.

The gearbox housing is oil-filled and fitted with 3 greaseable seal mechanisms for additional protection on each shaft. A special rotating agitation nozzle prevents swirl and promotes high impact, fast mixing over a wide area. Self-cleaning shredder blades break up any large chunks to keep the equipment and flow running smoothly. The 6” or 8” directional valve can be operated whilst the PTO is at low RPM.

Three pump length sizes, all with wheeled undercarriages, are available to suit different lagoon depths, which must have a maximum slope of 2 to 1. Multi purpose telescopic undercarriages, which can be used in concrete pits up to 16ft deep, and loading pipes fitted on wheels, are also available. An optional wheels and a tow bar kit makes for easy road transportation.

For more information or to find out about the Houle range of slurry handling equipment, visit our stand (EH2-216) at the Dairy Event

The right choice. | 10

Super pump gets first showing!

Super Pump / SRone

An excellent turn-out for the first public demonstration of the new Super Pump

Introducing

Strong, agile and tirelessThe SRone is a robot designed specially to clean slatted floors. It pushes and scrapes tirelessly, easily traversing long passageways and connecting walkways, getting into corners and edges to ensure clean, slurry-free surfaces.

SRone overviewOptimised barn hygiene in all • slatted passagewaysHealthy feet = reduced • treatment costsExtremely agile robot cleans • corners, edges and anglesCan handle loads up to 100kg • with integral safety switchAnimal-friendly design = stress-• free atmosphere in the barnLow-maintenance, long • service life technology = low maintenance costsScraper blade quick and easy to • replaceSaves work time and effort.•

The SRone in action in a cubicle passageway

Have you encountered any of our charging cows? They may already be resident at a GEA Farm Technologies dealer near you!

UK farmers will soon become accustomed to meeting our distinctive green and orange cows as they charge round the countryside on dealer vans. We are delighted that several GEA Farm Technologies’ dealers have now embraced our new corporate identity and are showing off the new eye-catching livery on their vehicles.

United Milking Systems is based in Market Drayton, and their cows can be seen charging around North Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.

GEA Farm TechnologiesGEA Farm Technologies Ltd30 Tanners Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes, MK14 5BNTel. 01908 589600 Fax 01908 589650 info@gea-farmtechnologies.co.uk www.gea-farmtechnologies.co.uk

Please indicate which products you would like included:MIone automatic milking system

IQ Cluster

BackFlush

ExtraHeat

AutoRotor PerFormer

5-year warranty

Super Pump

SRone robotic slurry scraper

Other (please specify)

Name:

Address:

Tel:

Mobile:

Current herd size:

Existing parlour:

Do you expect to purchase a new parlour/upgrade? When?

To save you time, your own pre-prepared information pack can be collected from our stand (number EH2-216) at the Dairy Event. Simply complete the form below and fax or send it as follows:

Faxback 01908 589650 or place in an envelope and send it FREEPOST toFREEPOST RLZH-UBAE-JRLG, GEA Farm Technologies Ltd, Marketing Department, Milton Keynes MK14 5BN

The charging countryside cows of GEA Farm Technologies

GEA DairyFlow’s cows have been travelling around the far South-West and Central Scotland from their depot near Kilmarnock