EuroTier 2024: 'Expert Stages' to cover pressing industry topics

October 28, 2024 - As part of its 2024 guiding theme 'We innovate animal farming', the EuroTier trade fair offers a range of 'Expert Stages', which are platforms that explore professional topics through live speeches. The Expert Stages feature the latest developments not only in poultry, cattle, pigs, horses, direct farm sales and on-farm slaughtering but also in renewable energy and controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The world's leading trade fair for professional animal husbandry and livestock management is held together with the EnergyDecentral trade fair in Hanover, Germany, November 12-15, 2024.

Organised by the DLG (German Agricultural Society), the EuroTier and EnergyDecentral trade fair include a comprehensive technical program covering most current livestock topics as well as the Inhouse Farming - Feed & Food Show, a platform for self-contained food systems like vertical farming. The Expert stages are free-to-attend for visitors at EuroTier.

You may also be interested in:

• EuroTier 2024: trends in cattle farming and feeding technology
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Expert Stage Poultry

Focusing on key topics in the poultry industry, the technical program at the 'Expert Stage Poultry' takes place on each of the four event days from 9:30am-5pm. Health management of poultry flocks, whether through optimised feeding, improvements to the housing environment or digital assistance systems for animal monitoring will be discussed. Experts and professionals will give tips on how to minimise the use of antibiotics.

These insightful approaches from science and practice will present perspectives and solutions for sustainable poultry farming that is driven by animal welfare. 

Expert Stage Cattle

With the 'Expert Stage Cattle', EuroTier 2024 offers an open-style platform for in-depth specialist presentations on current issues in dairy and beef cattle farming. In Hall 11 at the 'TopTierTreff' - a feature with demonstrations of live cattle breeds - and in Hall 13 at the 'DLG Studio Stage' as well as the 'DLG Expert Stage', presentations on cattle farming topics will take place daily on each of the four exhibition days.

At the TopTierTreff feature, dairy and beef cattle farmers can attend three different specialist presentations. One of these is dairy specialist Denise Völker's presentation on feeding entitled 'More milk from the ration - feeding cows healthily', which takes place at noon on November 13. Also of topical interest is the presentation by RBB Rinderproduktion Berlin Brandenburg GmbH on 'Breeding strategy for every dairy farm', which will take place on Thursday, November 14, at 10am. These presentations are in German using assisted software translations into English.

Surrounded by presentations of live breeds, these speaking events will provide practical insights for dairy farmers. 

In Hall 13, cattle farmers will be able to listen to an array of topics at the DLG Stages, including insights into feeding techniques, sustainable practices, the use of robots, innovative concepts for semi-mobile slaughtering and emission reduction.

Expert Stage Pigs

At the Expert Stage Pig in Hall 15, daily talks on the topic 'pig farming without tail docking' will take place and will include strategies and approaches from industry and practice. Short presentations, interviews and videos make up the presentation formats.

This year, interested visitors can take part in short seminars organised by a range of international publisher, including one where international experts discuss sow management, intestinal health, sustainability and animal welfare on Wednesday, 10am-3:30pm.

Another highlight represents a glimpse into the future on Friday, November 15, from 11am at the Expert Stage at the DLG stand in Hall 13, where the Gesellschaft für Informatik in der Landwirtschaft (GIL - the society for IT in agriculture) will discuss the digital tools that support sustainable production and what role data platforms and AI will play on farms in the future.

Expert Stage Horse

EuroTier 2024 will once again include a feature on horses. The DLG and the German Equestrian Federation (FN - die Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung) are jointly organising EuroTier the 'Horse Theme Day' on Wednesday, November 13. Taking place on each exhibition day, a further two specialist presentations on the DLG Expert Stage in Hall 13 will be devoted to key issues affecting equestrian businesses.

The Horse Theme Day will start at 10am on the DLG Expert Stage, DLG stand, Hall 13, with an expert talk on the topic of 'Work organisation, automation - how to organise everyday life on my farm?'. The presentation will be followed by guiding tours of selected exhibitors with a focus on horses in the areas of technology and equipment. From 3pm, two further specialist presentations will round off the program for equestrian businesses: In the first presentation, Professor Dirk Winter from Nürtingen University, Germany, will introduce digital solutions that help make everyday life on the farm easier. Afterwards, Christiane Rittershaus, horse husbandry consultant at Landesbertieb Landwirtschaft Hessen, will give an overview of the requirements for horse runs and their design options, which the DLG Horse Working Group has compiled in the revised DLG leaflet 'Design of horse runs'.

Direct farm sales and on-farm slaughter

For the first time, EuroTier will include a feature on mobile slaughter across the species of poultry, cattle and pigs. The topic will be presented on the two Expert Stages at the DLG stand in Hall 13. Speakers will present practical examples, examples of distribution channels and decision-making tools that support the acquisition and use of mobile slaughtering units. Visitors will be able to exchange information with manufacturers and operators directly as well as explore the legal requirements, identify suitable marketing approaches and establish the economical viability of the operation. 

Expert Stage EnergyDecentral

At the Expert Stage EnergyDecentral in Hall 25, visitors will find a compact overview of innovative and forward-looking technologies as well as a complete range of products and services for decentralised energy generation and its infrastructure.

On the opening day, November 12, the Expert Stages will focus on 'Innovations in the biogas industry'. This will be followed by 'Green Gases' on Wednesday, November 13. On Thursday, November 14, selected experts will discuss 'Biogas on the electricity markets of the future'. On the final day of the trade fair, the main theme of the stage will be 'Process optimisation and practical experience'. The stage will be open daily from 10am-3pm.

The English-language lecture series 'Powering Tomorrow: Biogas Innovations and Real-World Applications' will take place on Wednesday, November 13 and Thursday, November 14, from 2-3pm.

Expert Stage Inhouse Farming.

The Expert Stage Inhouse Farming, Hall 24, Stand C29, is dedicated to a different topic each day. On Tuesday, November 12, the 'Insect Theme Day' from 10am-5pm focuses on the potential of insects as an alternative protein source. On Wednesday, November 13, the Aquaculture, Aquaponics and Algae Theme Day takes place. The focus on the theme day is the development and potential of aquaculture, already one of the world's fastest growing sectors of agriculture.

On Thursday, the Expert Stage focuses on investors and start-ups. The 'investor breakfast' event will take place at the stand from 9:30am-11am. In addition to culinary delights, inspiring ideas will also be proposed on current topics relating to disruptive technologies in the agri-food sector. The final session of the DLG Impulse Pitches - Inhouse Farming Feed & Food will take place from 11:15am-12:30pm. In the public final round, these five nominees can convince the jury of experts of their innovation in live pitches. The start-up showcase will follow from 3:30pm-5pm. A jury of experts has selected five nominees from numerous international applications and will select one winner on the basis of strict selection criteria.

The simulation game 'From the stable to the vertical farm' and 'Alternative protein sources: driving forward sustainable agriculture with new technologies' will conclude the event on Friday.

Simultaneous translation using AI

At EuroTier 2024, 76 lectures will be offered in English. In addition, an AI simultaneous translator will be used at all expert stages. With the help of AI (artificial intelligence), the spoken word can be recorded in real time, translated and displayed in written form on screens next to the stages. This means that international visitors can follow German lectures without restrictions, and English lectures can also be translated into German without any time delay.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Bühler's Grain Innovation Center opens its doors

October 28, 2024 - Swiss technology group Bühler today inaugurates its new Grain Innovation Center (GIC) in Uzwil, a trailblazing facility. The new application centre marks a significant milestone in the field of grain processing innovation, combining high-tech solutions with the company's long-standing expertise in a space that promotes collaboration. The GIC is carefully designed to empower customers from the food and animal nutrition industries to innovate and improve their processes, ensuring they stay ahead of the latest trends in milling and remain competitive in their rapidly evolving markets. Additionally, customers and partners have access to the comprehensive Application & Training Center (ATC) hub in Uzwil, which connects entire value chains.

Aerial view of the Grain Innovation Center

"The Grain Innovation Center is the latest addition to Bühler's expanding network of Application & training Centres in Uzwil," says Johannes Wick, CEO of Grains & Food at Bühler Group. "We cover the entire range of production, from various raw materials to a wide array of finished products. In doing so, we provide our customers with exceptional flexibility and the choices they need to address increasing challenges and revolutionise their markets."

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With changes in global grain supply chains, nutritional requirements, transparency of sourcing and pricing pressure, the milling industry faces a challenging environment. These include maintaining flour quality with variable raw materials, improving production and energy efficiency, managing safety issues, or finding and keeping well skilled professionals. Adopting new technologies - such as automation, IoT and data analytics - and addressing environmental concerns add complexity, while growing consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable product has driven a faster pace of innovation. 

For this purpose, Bühler has designed a fresh, modern and high-tech milling technology facility - the GIC. The new building is the successor to Bühler's former Grain Technology Center, which has served the milling industry since 1951. The five-story facility spans 2000 square meters and features state-of-the-art infrastructure along with over 70 pieces of cutting-edge equipment from Bühler and its partners. The GIC works as a leading-edge arena for customers to experiment, innovate and find concrete solutions to meet their specific needs.

A high-tech 'playground'

The GIC is equipped with the latest solutions and technologies for processing grain and pulses. Customers can conduct tests on food and animal feed and can develop new processes and solutions in various areas, including cleaning, optical sorting, grinding, sifting, mixing, protein shifting (a mechanical process that increases the protein concentration in plant-based raw materials). Additionally, they can work on hygienisation and pelleting, as well as devilling, peeling and pearling of grains and pulses. "The GIC offers an unparalleled environment where customers can develop tailored processes and witness the extensive capabilities of Bühler's diverse portfolio firsthand," says Stefan Birrer, Head of Business Area Milling Solutions at Bühler. "The GIC is not just a facility, it's a symbol of our commitment to helping customers succeed in an industry that is continuously evolving."

Food trials encompass a variety of raw materials, including cereals, herbs, spices and pulses. The GIC includes the technology and expertise to conduct trials on local and ancient grains - raw materials that can play a vital role in improving food security in many countries. Leveraging its extensive know-how in processing, the GIC also offers testing from various other commodities, including coffee, nuts and insects. Additionally, the Application & Training Center caters to non-food bulk solids, such as plastics and absorbers.

Feed trials can be performed with production capacities of up to five tonnes per hour, covering the entire production line or individual process steps. "One of the main advantages of the GIC is its ability to provide not only detailed data that enable continuous and precise monitoring of the process but also the physical and chemical properties of the product at every stage of production and under different process conditions," says Lothar Driller, Department Manager Feed Application Center and Trainings at Bühler.

The side streams generated by the GIC, such as wheat bran and rice husks, corn husk, pea hulls and screenings from cleaning, will feed Bühler's Energy Recovery Center, which provides heating for Bühler offices in Uzwil. Customers can also use this Center to explore the potential of utilising side streams through energy recovery, which can lead to the reduction of their carbon footprint, waste and energy costs.

Part of a larger innovation hub

The GIC is part of Bühler's Application & Training Centers hub, which encompasses the four recently launched ATCs - Flavour Creation Center, Food Creation Center, Protein Application Center and Energy Recovery Center - and other centres that have been in operation for several years, such as the Extrusion Application Center and Pasta Application Center.

With this innovation hub, Bühler can provide full, farm-to-fork coverage, encompassing entire value chains, an environment that is unique in the market. "Our broad business stretches across the entire protein value chain, and we have meticulously implemented a strategy for partnerships, closing internal gaps and enhancing material flow," says Rudolf Hofer, Head of the Grain Innovation Center. 

Training and upskilling talent

The modernisation project also includes Bühler's Milling Academy and the Swiss institute of Feed Technology (SFT), both of which will be housed in a new structure strategically located next to the GIC to increase synergies. This new Milling Academy and the SFT facility will have classrooms, open learning areas, meting rooms, a customer service corner, new laboratories, a workshop area and a larger changing room for customers and employees.

The new building will enable Bühler's team and customers to adapt and develop the skills needed to keep pace with a quickly changing and increasingly challenging work environment. About 100 customers and 150 internal employees were trained in more than 120 training courses offered by the Milling Academy and the Swiss Institute of Feed Technology in 2023. The new training facility is due to be operational by January 2025.

Grain Innovation Centre Press Conference

Milling and Grain Magazine attended the Press conference for the announcement of the new Grain Innovation Centre, on October 28, 2024.

Johannes Wick, CEO Grains & Food at Bühler, opening the briefing with an overview of the milling industry, including challenges and opportunities such as raw material dependency, growing populations, climate change, supply chains, consumer trends, and competitive pressure.

He emphasises the need for solutions to be affordable, optimising yields, reducing energy, being more sustainable with less energy, water-use and waste with upcycling, whilst utilising raw materials more. 

“Building for today’s needs, and tomorrows.” In the last two years, Bühler has worked on 150 mill projects, producing capacity more than 30,000 tonnes a day, feeding 60 million people.

Stefan Birrer, Managing Director at Bühler, continues, discussing the history of innovation within Bühler. Highlighting the potential of the industry, he states the new application centre can show the whole process from grain to product working to reduce inefficiencies “from the field to the plate”.

Christoph Näf, Head of value nutrition at Bühler, finishes the talks with an overview of the benefits of GIC trials, and the importance of investing in people and training, through their new milling academy. Bühler want to build sustainability in their business and processes, changing challenges into opportunities. Speaking on welcoming the new grain innovation centre, Christoph Näf states: “It will not be the last investment, we have now a big puzzle piece in our network to fulfil what we want to do. Together we will future proof the industry.”

The session ended with a Q&A. When asked how the consumers worldwide will benefit with the innovations possible in the next few years. 

“We have the consumers in mind around the world, and each zones have different needs.” They stated that for some countries, food security and affordability would be the most important issue for consumers, whereas other zones priorities are producing the same kind of foods except more sustainably, consuming less energy and more yields. 

When asked about trends they are looking out for, the few mentioned were feed safety, efficiency, and insect processing (which incorporates upcycling food waste and food safety with healthy ingredients). Milling and Grain magazine asked what developing sectors show promise to, to which they mentioned trends looking at alternative grains, one of the biggest growing markets, such as pulses, as well as diversifying raw materials and upcycling side streams.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Perstorp Group appoints Ian Atterbury to lead its Animal Nutrition growth plan

October 28, 2024 - Perstorp Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG), announced new leadership within its Animal Nutrition business, with Ian Atterbury joining as Senior Vice President, effective January 13, 2025.

Ian Atterbury

Ian Atterbury is an established executive leader and has over 30 years' experience in the animal nutrition industry. He has been working globally for the majority of his career and has a strong background in leading and growing animal nutrition business.

"I am really proud to be joining Perstorp, a globally recognised company in Animal Nutrition. The company shares my ambition to push the boundaries of our understanding in this industry that we are all so passionate about, and has strong foundations on which we will continue to build," says Ian Atterbury.

"Animal Nutrition is an important component of Perstorp's future. We are delighted to welcome Ian to Perstorp Animal Nutrition Business at this exciting time. We have a new ambitious strategic plan outlining the roadmap to grow the business through our differentiated product pipeline," says Perstorp CEO Ib Jensen.

Perstorp has supplied and supported highly effective additives for the agricultural industry for over 60 years. As a producer of key raw materials such as propionic, formic, butyric and Valeric acid, they focus their efforts on developing the next generation of acid-based solutions for gut health and preservation. Perstorp spearheaded the use of propionins, butyrins and valerins (esters of organic acids) in animal nutrition and is currently leading the way in well researched synergistic blended formulation for even better performance.

Ian Atterbury succeeds Aart Mateboer who retired earlier this year.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Ukraine harvest 63.7 million tonnes of grain and oilseeds

October 28, 2024 - Ukraine demonstrated a significant production performance in the 2024 agricultural season, harvesting 63.7 million tonnes of grain and oilseeds on a large cultivated area of 18.1 million hectares. As a result of the harvest across the country, 45.1 million tonnes of grain and 18.6 million tonnes of oilseeds were obtained.

A productive season was experienced in strategically important agricultural products such as wheat, barley, corn and sunflower. The wheat harvest, which was 100 percent completed on an area of 4.9 million hectares, yielded a total production of 22.3 million tonnes. Barley, on the other hand, reached a yield of 5.5 million tonnes with a harvest of 1.4 million hectares.

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Among other legume crops, peas were harvested on 212.2 thousand hectares with a 100 percent yield of 465.3 thousand tonnes. In maize, 67 percent harvest rate was reached on 2.7 million hectares, yielding 15.4 million tonnes. The ongoing maize harvest shows that this yield may increase further. 

Sunflower, an important oilseed crop, was harvested at a rate of 94 percent on 4.6 million hectares, yielding 9.5 million tonnes. Soybeans, on the other hand, were harvested on 2.5 million hectares at a rate of 93 percent and yielded 5.6 million tonnes. Rapeseed also reached 3.5 million tonnes with a 100 percent harvest rate completed on 1.3 million hectares.

On the other hand, farmers continue to harvest sugar beet in 15 different regions. 66 percent of the sugar beet planted on 170.6 thousand hectares of land has been harvested, yielding 8.3 million tonnes of sweet root. As the harvesting process progresses, the total production of this product is expected to increase. Ukraine has once again demonstrated its agricultural production capacity with the harvest results obtained this year.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Dinnissen Sampling Unit now ATEX certified

October 25, 2024 - Dinnissen has announced that the Sampling Unit has expanded its ATEX certification to cover a wide range of environments. This means that the Sampling Unit is now suitable for hazardous areas with explosion Riss, specifically for internal zones 20, 21 and 22, as well as external zones 21 and 22. The ATEX certification, compliant with Directive 2014/34/EU, marks a significant milestone and highlights the unit's reliable design.

This certification ensures that the unit meets the highest safety standards for dust explosion risks. The Sampling Unit can operate in environments with ambient temperatures ranging from -20°C - 60°C, while process temperatures can range from 0°C - 120°C. Additionally, it is capable of sampling products with highly critical explosive properties, making it a versatile solution for various industrial applications. 

About the Sampling Unit

Dinnissen's Sampling Unit simplifies the process of obtaining accurate samples during production, which is crucial for quality control. This intelligent unit automates sampling, reducing the risk of human error and lowering labour costs. Producers in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries use the Sampling Unit to collect multiple samples without interrupting production. This results in consistent quality and improved efficiency. Its hygienic design and easy cleaning make it an indispensable tool for companies seeking reliable quality measurements.

Proven and tested design

With over 350 units sold worldwide in the past decade, the Sampling Unit has proven its reliability and effectiveness in real-world applications. Customers can trust this tested and proven design for automatic product stream sampling, with hygiene as a top priority. The machine contains no dead spaces, has a minimal number of parts and eliminates metal-to-metal contact risks, making it easy to clean and ideal for the food and animal feed industries.

Extensive capabilities

The ATEX-certified Sampling Unit offers a wide range of capabilities, including various sampling carousels for further automation. Constructed entirely from premium materials, such as stainless steel 316 and food-grade plastics, the unit can be seamlessly integrated into existing installations, supporting retrofit applications.

Erik Peeters, Sampling Specialist at Dinnissen, highlights the importance of this certification: "This is Dinnissen's contribution to ensuring safe food supplies for both humans and animals, now and in the future."

Explosion-proof solutions

In addition to the ATEX-certified Sampling Unit, Dinnissen offers other machines specifically designed for use in explosion-risk environments. For example, our centrifugal sifters and Pegasus mixers are fully compliant with stringent ATEX guidelines. These machines are not only optimised for safety but also for efficiency and reliability.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

FDA guidance preserves use of AAFCO-defined ingredients in animal food products

October 24, 2024 - The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) thanked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for publishing final guidance that will allow animal food manufacturers to continue using ingredients, previously reviewed for safety and published in the 2024 Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) official Publication, in products sold in interstate commerce. The AAFCO Official Publication is the main resource state and international regulators use for ensuring domestic and global acceptance of safety for animal food ingredients, so without the FDA's nod, the use of hundreds of ingredients could have been at risk for sale within the United States.

AFIA President and Chief Executive Officer Constance Cullman issued the following statement: "We are encouraged by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine's decision to formally recognise the safety of hundreds of AAFCO-defined animal food ingredients, ensuring there is no question about their ability to be used or marketed within the United States and internationally. This decision is crucial for maintaining stability and confidence in our regulatory system, especially after the FDA recently ended its longstanding partnership with AAFCO on the review of new animal food ingredients.

"Before moving forward, we will encourage the agency to accept the last ingredients completing their reviews under the prior FDA-AAFCO memorandum of understanding, which will be listed in future editions of the AAFCO Official Publication. Our members are also engaged in providing the FDA feedback on its additional efforts to modernise the existing and proposed regulatory review systems so that animal food ingredient innovators can not only bring their products to the US marketplace in a timely, efficient manner but compete with our competitors' modernised regulatory systems."

As of October 1, the FDA's and AAFCO's longstanding memorandum of understanding for reviewing new animal food ingredients officially ended, removing one of three regulatory review systems currently utilised by animal food innovators when bringing new products to market. The move raised concerns from the animal food industry on how the FDA would treat ingredients previously approved through AAFCO, rather than the FDA's Generally Recognised as Safe or Food Additive Petition processes. The FDA's guidance acknowledged that it would not tae enforcement action against manufacturers that use ingredients listed in the 2024 AAFCO Official Publication, provided they remain safe for the intended species, are used according to their intended uses, specifications and limitations and are listed under the official common and usual names chapter of the AAFCO Official Publication.

Given that animal food innovators could submit ingredients for review up until September 1, 2024, there are many ingredients still awaiting review through the AAFCO review process, a process that lasts several months to years. The US animal food industry encourages the FDA to update its guidance annually to accept future editions of the AAFCO Official Publication to be inclusive of all ingredients that have utilised this pathway.

For more information, visit HERE. 

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

EuroTier 2024: trends in cattle farming and feeding technology

October 23, 2024 - The requirements for future-orientated milk production and cattle farming in Germany continue to increase. In addition to the difficult global conditions, the challenge remains of organising dairy farming in the future in such a way that sustainability, with all its aspects and conflicting objectives, increasingly becomes the focus of all those involved along the value chain.

Safeguarding the economy and meeting the political and social demands for new animal welfare standards is a balancing act that can only succeed if all those involved in this value chain, including politicians, are aware of their responsibility and ensure it in the long term. In the context of social aspects, not only the working and living conditions in agriculture, but also political and social concerns must be taken into account.

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Resolve conflicting goals

It is difficult to fulfil all these requirements at the same time, as this creates conflicting objectives that need to be resolved. Classic conflicts of objectives appear to arise when there is a demand for greater animal welfare in conjunction with a consistent reduction in negative environmental impacts. However, a closer look reveals that there are often also positive effects which, with intelligent measures to reduce emissions, also have positive effects on animal welfare. This means that when freshly deposited manure is picked up directly by collecting robots, emissions can be reduced through rapid cleaning, while the cleanliness of the walking surfaces and hoof health are maintained at the same time. 

Build smart

In the current political and social situation, it is not easy to develop dairy cattle farming with adapted barn and farming concepts that are fit for the future on the market and to obtain licences for the construction of dairy cattle barns. Professional solutions are also urgently needed. Smart building is a path that is becoming increasingly clear, as the interplay of intelligent barn construction concepts in conjunction with innovative technologies, particularly in the areas of automation and digitalisation, supports sustainable, animal-friendly farming conditions and an optimised environmental impact. In addition, both have the potential to reduce the workload of dairy farmers and their employees and improve working conditions.

Take consumer interests seriously

Pasture, grassland utilisation and the discussion about mother or cow-based calf rearing are current topics of discussion between consumers and farmers. It is particularly important for farmers to take these issues and aspects seriously in order to generate transparent, comprehensible solutions for these requirements and, if possible, to incorporate them transparently into daily practice. 

In addition to dairy cattle farming, intelligent developments are also required in cattle fattening. The traditional fattening of bulls on fully slatted floors does not meet the ethological needs of the animals or the expectations of consumers and politicians. So here as well, the goal is to design and implement new concepts that are economical but are also recognised by consumers and politicians.

Challenges for dairy farmers

Sustainability, social demands for greater animal welfare as well as legal requirements and political discussions are challenging dairy farmers today - not only on a technical level, but increasingly also in the area of communication and administrative challenges. But how justified is this call for change and transformation in dairy farming? What is the current status and which topics and challenges need to be focused on more intensively in today's world? In recent years, many aspects of dairy farming have been resolved in terms of improved animal welfare and optimised working performance, The need to optimise the negative environmental impact has been recognised and further intensive work must be undertaken in this area. Automation and digitalisation have also changed husbandry and production processes. The performance level was significantly influenced and the work organisation requirements for the dairy farmers and their teams changes.

24/7 stands for a permanent presence and availability and consequently for a permanent presence in the company. However, intelligent technologies combined with consistent, preventative management lead to a significant reduction in workload and a new assessment of the quality of work. Although the general requirement to be available seven days a week and around the clock will remain in place, the likelihood of actually being needed will decrease significantly and the amount of time off during the week will increase considerably.

Intelligent digitalisation

The process of digitalisation will continue to accompany cattle farmers in the coming years. But that's not all: it is important to realise that the intelligent digitalisation of agriculture has only just begun and that there will be further significant changes. Artificial intelligence is the magic word. The first developments in sensor technology and animal monitoring will be presented at EuroTier 2024 and it will be interesting to see how this exciting area of work will continue to develop in the coming years.

New barn and husbandry concepts

It's been a long time since we've seen the kind of paralysis in barn construction that we're currently experiencing. The demand for new barn concepts has virtually fallen to zero. Dairy farmers who are willing to build are also waiting to see how the political requirements develop and how they will then have to react or build accordingly. 

Composting and free-range barns currently play a rather subordinate role. The classic cubicle barns remain relevant for planning. In terms of economy, ecology, work quality and animal welfare, they still fulfil many of the current requirements. However, with alternative systems such as the composting barn, the ecological conditions and effects must also be taken into account. This is because in these systems alone, the space required per cow increases significantly compared to the classic cubicle barn.

New husbandry concepts are being discussed in calf farming. The current requirement to keep calves on the farm for 28 days raises new questions, but also theoretical possibilities for better marketing. However, this also requires new management approaches in terms of husbandry and, above all, the feeding of young calves. Many dairy farmers are saying goodbye to the igloo in order to meet the new challenges. Closed barns with flexible boxes and pen partitions for single, double and group housing offer new opportunities for greater animal welfare, efficiency and also acceptance by consumers and politicians.

Utilise automation

Autonomous milking and feeding, picking up manure and pushing feed - farmers have learnt to appreciate automation systems that perform these kinds of tasks in recent years. Automatic feeding will become more of a focus, as it has a great deal of potential. More frequent presentation with fresh feed stimulates higher feed intake, losses are reduced and energy consumption is also lower compared to diesel-powered machines. 

Sensor technology and the resulting possibilities offer further options for herd management tat can be used to optimise quality milk production. Particularly in the field of intelligent animal monitoring based on cameras, various, even undesirable, behaviours can be quickly identified. Any problems that arise can be quickly described and, in conjunction with the right conclusions, also resolved.

Optimise functional areas

This year, the walking surfaces are taking centre stage. Maintaining their cleanliness is a simple requirement. This requires concepts in which robots collect faeces, manure and slurry promptly and cleanly. In combination with the right walking surfaces, which guarantee rapid urine drainage, essential goals are achieved: Emissions are reduced, hoof health is maintained thanks to the dry walking surfaces and working conditions are more pleasant as a result of the clean walking surfaces.

Summary

The general conditions in milk production and cattle farming are not easy at the moment and consistent management and good production technology are needed to meet the increased demands. However, the advantages should also be recognised. Milk and beef have a good reputation and are still very popular with consumers. Intelligent approaches are still necessary in order to fulfil the goals of sustainable production. Industry and practice have it in their hands to develop innovative approaches and, in some cases, to break new ground. Politicians and retailers must position themselves and guarantee long-term planning security. With creativity, new ideas and thoughts and, of course, courage, obstacles could be overcome on all sides and the markets secured.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.