Project title: Precision Livestock Unifeed System (P.L.U.S.)
Beneficiaries: Sgariboldi s.r.l., PTM s.r.l., Università degli Studi di Milano (VESPA and DISAA Departments)
Project description and objectives
The P.L.U.S. project aims to develop an innovative self-propelled mixer feeder for the preparation and distribution of the unifeed ration (TMR) to dairy cattle. The final objective is the development of a “wagon system” capable of integrating various control sensor subsystems that can help the operator during the preparation and distribution of the ration. In such way the farmer will have an advanced tool that will allow the control of the technical and economic efficiency of the process.
Total mixed ration (TMR) homogeneity and particle size distribution are between the most important parameters to count with in dairy cow that needs to deal with nutritional requirements and allow higher performance. These parameters are, in fact, subdued to the mixing wagon load. Loading level, cutting and mixing times are essential for the uniformity of the diet released along all the feeding alley.
Expected results
- Remote real time control over: loading, mixing and distribution of the unifeed ration;
- Reduced difference between the theoretical ration and distributed ration;
- Increased production performance, health and well-being for dairy cattle;
- Increased work productivity with reduced energy consumption.
The development phases for the project are the following:
– develop and build a -mixer feeder prototype (Phase 1);
– test the mixer feeder prototype, check physical and chemical properties of the TMR-unifeed ration prepared and distributed, evaluate benefits for the animals (Phase 2);
– evaluate the overall efficiency of the mixer feeder prototype developed (Phase 3).
The feasibility analysis, can be focused and has been accomplished during the first phase, already finalised (building, installing and validating the sensor subsystems). The purpose of this phase was to build a mixer feeder prototype capable of applying an innovative method for the preparation and distribution of the TMR-unifeed ration, guaranteeing improved use of the company resources available (in terms of human resources, energy and food) and a higher level of automation and precision in the operations.
Once the mixer-feeder complete with all the necessary technology has been built, the focus is moved on the test that are run at the moment in order to analyse the overall behaviour of the prototype and the achieved results.
The sensors on board are analgising the values of humidity and chemical parameters content of the components of the ration in real time, in order to correctly set the quantities for the animal feed before it is added to the mixing tank of the wagon.
In the end, the analysed information will be properly stored on a cloud platform, available to the end-user.
The entire project is under development and the final results will be presented by mid of 2019.
