GEA Farm Technologies has won The Royal Association of British
Dairy Farmers (RABDF) Prince Philip Award 2009 for their IQ
Cluster.
In a presentation made by His Royal Highness at Buckingham
Palace this week, GEA received the honours for research and
development in the field of dairy farming and the most practical,
relevant and best technical exhibit at this year's Dairy Event and
Livestock Show.
Compared with the standard industry design, the IQ Cluster
combines the advantages of a claw piece with the ability to milk by
individual quarters, the judges said.
The innovative milking technology works by using a new and
unique four-way cluster design, explained GEA's managing director,
Paul Gerrard.
"This allows each individual teat to be milked separately - the
product effectively isolates each quarter, helping prevent
intra-mammary cross-infection, improving operator efficiency, milk
quality, yield and milking time."
GEA's
IQ Cluster proved to be an excellent example of an exhibitor who
excels in technical innovation and presentation, said Nick
Everington, RABDF's chief
executive.
As organisers of
the Dairy Event
and Livestock Show, we are focused on communicating to farmers
the benefits of best practice and technology transfer, which will
help to improve herd efficiency, he said.
Dairymac, Wickham.
Hampshire also received a Certificate of Merit for their ECO-Dipper
Dip Cup. This ecologically sound device for teat dipping has been
designed to save up to 40% of disinfectant applied, without loss of
activity - subsequently the product offers environmental and cost
benefits.
