Balancing animal well-being and ecological impact in dairy farming
The upside of modern dairy farming is affordable milk; the downside is its impact on the environment. However, milk producers and the greater agriculture industry work together to tackle climate change.
With a degree in agribusiness, Michael Krumberg is proving that milk production can be sustainable and climate-friendly on his farm in Westphalian Rheine, Germany. With the help of cutting-edge technology from GEA, he’s successfully running a 340-cow business while, at the same time, improving animal health and minimizing its environmental impact.
As a consultant for the German Chamber of Agriculture, Michael has gained experience from other dairy farms, understands their challenges and shared best practices: “As producers of high-quality food, dairy farmers have to meet strict industry standards. However, regulations regarding land use, livestock farming and environmental management are becoming increasingly stringent. This means we need viable and customizable solutions that protect the environment, the animals and our operational resources."
A feel-good barn to promote animal health
To address these challenges and those associated with animal health and welfare, Michael developed a barn concept with an integrated milking carousel. “When you grow up with cows, you learn what they like and how they behave. As such, I wanted to provide a free-stall barn with plenty of light, air and room to move. For the milking facility, the DairyRotor T8900 rotary milking parlor from GEA fits perfectly with my ideas of animal comfort. And, equipping it with the ApolloMilkSystem offers additional benefits that promote udder health.”
“What I immediately liked about GEA’s T8900 rotary milking parlor is that the milking stalls are spacious, the cabinets are round, ergonomic and particularly low. Thanks to the ample headroom, each cow can stay in contact with the herd. I’m always impressed to see how quickly and smoothly the cows enter the carousel and leave it again after milking.” Hassle-free and unperturbed, the next cow enters the free milking stall, sticks her head over the front barrier and starts ruminating. “This shows how relaxed the milking process is”, he adds.
Visibly clean hygiene
Animal health starts with barn hygiene. An automatic scraper cleans the alleys and the cows’ clean hooves speak for themselves! “The barn’s floor has some give”, explains Michael. “Its rubber layer is easy on the joints and allows the cows to feel secure on their feet.” He’s also an advocate of the deep-bedded cubicles and accepts the extra maintenance work they require. “They’re the best you can offer your cows; when they’re comfortable, cows lie down longer. This is important, because relaxed lying and ruminating stimulates milk production in the udder.” A cow weighs 700–900 kg and lies down by bending her front knees. Thanks to the soft bedding material, the hocks don’t have lesions and are noticeably clean.
Automatic milking hygiene supports long-term udder health
The innovative ApolloMilkSystem is a four-way milking cluster with an automatic dipping and backflushing function. “Thanks to Apollo, we milk efficiently with just one person. After attaching, milking and teat dipping is done fully automatically.” Furthermore, at the end of the milking procedure and while they’re still expanded, the teats are moistened with a disinfectant solution that penetrates even the smallest folds.
As such, for the next few hours, the dipping procedure protects the sensitive teat skin and the still-open teat canal from harmful germs. Only then is the teat cup removed and subsequently cleaned and disinfected. “Cluster disinfection prevents germs from being transmitted from cow to cow. As a result, we ensure maximum udder hygiene and that a germ-free, flawless milking cluster is ready for the next cow.”
Prioritizing animal health
The DairyRotor T8900 rotary milking parlor is equipped with smart sensor-based technologies and delivers real-time milking results on the parlor screen. “I like looking at the cows twice a day. Analyzing conductivity and monitoring milk quantity helps to determine when a cow needs attention or an udder is getting infected.”
In addition, Michael gets support from GEA CowScout. “This system monitors the cows around the clock. By looking at their rumination behavior and movement patterns, we can recognize sick cows very quickly and reliably. This allows us to step in immediately and take precautionary measures. In addition, CowScout identifies animals in estrus and pinpoints the best time for insemination. This has improved and simplified our reproduction management a lot.”
Meticulous management of special-needs cows
For the optimal care of cows in need of treatment, Michael has developed special measures. “A variety of studies have shown that cows like to lie hidden shortly before calving. That’s why, in the straw area, we’ve set up screening walls to create a secluded, peaceful setting for them.” For the first few days after calving, he’s installed a wide feeding fence in another straw area. “That gives freshly calved cows plenty of space, peace and time for their metabolism to readjust. This helps them to get a good start into a new lactation cycle after calving.”
Thoughtful and holistic concept for a minimal footprint
The feel-good barn, rotary milking parlor and control technology work hand in hand for climate-friendly operations. The use of farm supplies, such as dipping fluid, is closely monitored and allows for more economical dosage if needed. Pumps and power units operate on a needs-only basis to minimize energy use. Plus, slurry and manure are utilized in the company’s own 75 KW biogas plant. The fermentation product from biogas production is almost odorless and serves as a worthy substitute for chemical fertilizers. In addition, the barn roof is equipped with solar panels. “The electricity we produce is fed into the public grid. The biogas plant is carbon-neutral; with its output alone, we can supply 220 four-person households."
A successful year, a promising future
After a year of operation, a low somatic cell count of 130,000–150,000 and an impressive 11,000 L of milk per cow reflect the animal-friendly atmosphere and relaxed milking process. Michael has also been able to optimize the farm’s work routines and reduce milking times from 4.5–5 to 1.5–2 hours. In the future, he’s planning to switch from two to three milking times to take even better care of his herd. “Multiple milkings a day greatly reduces pressure in the udder and protects the cow’s long-term health,” he concludes.
