DeLaval Introduces new robotic milking system and feed pusher

DeLaval has launched the VMS milking system V300, and the OptiDuo robotic feed pusher.

The Swedish company said the VMS V300 helps farmers by making them less reliant on future labor market uncertainties and keeping them at the forefront of animal welfare and food safety.

Joakim Rosengren, president & CEO of DeLavel, said the company has an obligation and an opportunity to contribute to better milking practices in all parts of the world, directly aiming at helping farmers in their life, with their daily challenges.

“The design of the new VMS V300 system has farmers and their challenges at its core, allowing farmers to do more with less. We are indeed very satisfied with the fantastic result achieved,” Rosengren said.

The system has a 99% teat spray hit rate, real quarter milking, up 10% higher capacity from the previous model with a lower running cost, up to 99.8% attachment rate, up to 50% faster attachment time, and a potential of more than 3,500kg of milk per day.

The VMS V300 system comes with DeLaval InControl, the new user interface allowing access to information and control of the system remotely. DeLaval PureFlow, the new transparent teat preparation cup, is another new feature coming with the VMS V300. Lastly, DeLaval InSight is the latest in vision technology for what the company said is a “smooth, fast and accurate attachment.”

The DeLaval VMS milking system V300 is available now worldwide.

Feed pusher

DeLaval OptiDuo remixes and repositions feed onto the feed table. This new approach increases feed intake, reduces feed waste and helps farmers to use the time saved.

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DeLaval OptiDuo makes sure cows always have access to refreshed feed. Its technology allows remixing feed before moving it onto the feeding table. With its twin-spiraled rotating auger and adaptive drive function, all kinds of feed are repositioned onto the feeding table filling any gaps and ensuring that the strands of roughage remain intact. This means that lower ranked cows are not pushed to empty positions, reducing competition and stress at the feeding table.

Dr Trevor DeVries, professor and Canada research chair in dairy cattle behaviour and welfare, at the University of Guelph, In Ontario, Canada, said the technology has the potential to ensure dairy cows have continual access to a well-mixed diet.

“This should not only help to ensure maximal dry matter intake, but also help minimize feed sorting, and allow cows to use their time more efficiently. This leaves more time for lying down and ruminating," DeVries said.

DeLaval OptiDuo has the option to add a concentrate dispenser. It can also automatically handle different amounts of feed as well as several feed types, including any kind of total mix ratio (TMR), straw, hay or fresh grass.

The equipment can be used in a wide range of situations, including barns with 5% slopes and different width alleys, as well as on farms with multiple barns.

There are few parts that need to be changed, with no requirement for greasing.

DeLaval OptiDuo is now available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. America, Asia and Oceania markets will follow shortly.