Frequent feed pushing really pays off
Increasing feed-pushing frequency stimulates frequent consumption, potentially leading to a 2.8% increase in feed intake within the herd. In terms of automatic milking, frequent feed pushing encourages cows to visit the milking robot more often. It also reduces the amount of rest feed and, in cases where there is not enough room for all cows at the fence, frequent feed pushing can reduce stress and aggression by ensuring feed is always within reach for every cow. Automating the recurring work of feed pushing 24 hours a day also significantly reduces labor requirements and fuel costs.
Taking feed pushing to the next level
The new Lely Juno feed pusher is the most versatile feed pusher on the market. It can be used in almost any type of barn without modifications. The Juno follows walls and fences on both sides, while metal guiding strips on the floor drive it towards the charging station and, if necessary, to other barns.
When the Juno drives without pushing it can lift its skirt, reducing wear and tear, and enabling the Juno to overcome small obstacles. It also provides sufficient ground clearance when driving on slopes and keeps the skirt free from mud and manure pollution. This ensures that the feed stays clean, tasty and attractive to the cows, which in turn improves feed intake and animal health. The Juno can lower its skirt in a left-hand and right-hand pushing position. This makes routing more efficient, resulting in a higher machine capacity.
Smart technology for more control and safety
When driving from one barn to another, the Juno can automatically open and close electric doors using a Bluetooth connection. A Bluetooth connection can also be used to operate the machine on a smartphone with the highly intuitive “Lely Control Plus” operation system. The farmer can easily create and adjust a route with pre-set actions and simply steer the Juno with a finger on the screen. Within just one route per feeding alley, it is possible to enter multiple feeding rounds and distances from the feed fence.
Based on the amount of feed at a given spot, the Juno automatically corrects the optimal distance to the feed fence. This ensures that the Juno pushes the feed correctly over the entire length of the alley; even when the feed is not divided evenly, it is always within the cows’ reach.
The Juno also features a collision detector. This ensures that the feed pusher stops as soon as it hits an obstacle. The collision detector can also be equipped with an electric pulse. This does not harm cows or humans but prevents cows from stopping the machine by touching it.
The new Juno will be available as of August 31st, 2018.
