Manage calf rearing with CalfCloud

CalfCloud is a web page with all the data from the Lely Calm feeder. With the overview, the daily work can be done efficiently. Read more to discover the possibilities.

Feeding

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Förster-Technik has developed CalfCloud. On this web page, all data from the Lely Calm feeder is shown in an attractive and useful design. With CalfCloud, the daily work can be done in an efficient and simplified way. A few things that are shown in CalfCloud are:

Milk intake per calf, every day for each calf that is registered on the Lely Calm.
Drinking speed of each calf, which can tell more about the health of the calf.
Analysis of the total milk period of each calf, displayed as a graph, and the ‘rearing success’, shown as a score.
Calves can be registered and unsubscribed via CalfCloud rather than on the Lely Calm itself.
Milk schedules can be set and changed.

Framed in Lely T4C

Connecting the Lely Calm feeder to CalfCloud is only possible if the automatic feeder is from the ‘Smart Generation’. To check if the Calm is suitable for connection to CalfCloud, look at the ID-Plate which is on the Calm feeder itself. If there is a ‘VS’ or ‘CS’ in the 5th and 6th letter positions in the type number of the feeder, it is suitable for connection to CalfCloud.
The connection will be made by an ethernet cable, for a steady transmission of data to CalfCloud.
It is possible to connect the Lely Calm calf feeder to Lely T4C with CalfCloud inframe.
First switch it on, in the functionality settings menu. See figure 1.

Figure 1. Add in CalfCloud inframe in the functionality settings menu

Then the inframe is ready to use. See figure 2: Where to find CalfCloud in Lely T4C.

Figure 2. Where to find CalfCloud in Lely T4C

Create an account and add a feeder

For using CalfCloud, the feeder needs to be connected through an ethernet cable to the T4C network. In addition, an account for CalfCloud is necessary. The farmer can create a CalfCloud account for free.
Once the Lely Calm has been added to CalfCloud, it is ready to use.

Main menu

Figure 3 shows the main menu of CalfCloud. It shows if there are any attention calves and if the feeder is running fine without any alarms.

Figure 3. Main menu

Animal data

Figure 4 shows the animal data, sorted on feeding day in a list. There are a few options for sorting the calves in the list. One useful view shows the amount of milk the calves drank today and yesterday. Also, the drinking speed and break-offs are shown. Next to that there is an attention on alarm calves.
It is also possible to show the list of calves in another layout. See figure 5.

Figure 4. Animal data list

Figure 5. Different layout for showing calf data

More detailed information per calf is shown in figures 6 and 7. The feeding behaviour data is shown for yesterday, today and over the whole milk period. The drinking speed is also shown for the whole milk period.
There is a block with general information about the calves. When there are weighting scales connected to the feeder, the weight of the calf is displayed. Moreover, with all of this data, CalfCloud is creating a rearing success score for assessing the calf rearing at the end of the milk period.

Figure 6. Detailed information per calf

Figure 7. Detailed information per calf

Feeding plans

Information about the feeding plans is also available in CalfCloud. The quantity of milk, but also the concentration. The limitations in the feeding plans can also be changed.
Figure 8 shows an overview of an example of a feeding plan, based on 40FIT.

Figure 8. Change feeding plan

Change settings via CalfCloud

It is possible to change settings via CalfCloud. Make a change to the feeding plans or register (figure 10) or delete a calf from the feeder. To change settings via CalfCloud, a special ‘Token’ or ‘Service ID’ is needed. This token is shown in the ‘cloud menu’ on the feeder. Once you set the token in CalfCloud, changes can be made for 24 hours. Figure 9 shows where to unlock CalfCloud with the token or Service ID.

Figure 9. Enter token/service ID

Figure 10. Register a calf via CalfCloud

Calf App GO!

CalfCloud can also be used on a mobile phone via an app. The app is stored in the App store and is called Calf App GO! It has the same layout as the desktop version of CalfCloud.

For a more detailed guide to CalfCloud or Calf App GO! contact your Lely Centre.

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