Host of livestock products unveiled
A host of new products for the livestock sector are being launched at this year’s Livestock Event on 8 and 9 July at the NEC, Birmingham. Here’s a brief look at some of the products ahead of the event.
Phone-controlled electric fencing energisers released
See also: All the latest news from Livestock Event 2015
Farmers can now switch off electric fencing from anywhere on farm using their mobile phone and be automatically alerted if an electric fence fails, thanks to a new range of energisers from Rutland Electric Fencing.
The Rutland GSM Smart Phone Control Energiser is available in a battery operated or mains version and will automating send a text message should the voltage drop or there be a break in the voltage in the fencing.
Tom Royall, agricultural category manager for Woodstream Europe, which owns Rutland Electric fencing, claims the new energisers will save farmers time and money.
“One of the daily tasks is checking fencing, but now you don’t have to worry about doing it,” he says. “You can also be on the opposite end of your farmland and you can turn off a fence remotely and put it back on again without going back to the farm.”
With fencing equipment theft a big problem for farmers, the two energisers can also be tracked and there is the ability to send a text message to destroy the energiser should it be stollen.
The mains unit can do 100km of fence and costs £720 plus VAT. The 12V energiser costs £375 plus VAT. Both come with a three-year warranty.
For more information visit www.woodstream.com or stand AH126.
Carbon footprint tool from Alltech E-CO2
James Wynne (right)
A carbon footprinting tool will be released by Alltech E-CO2 at the Livestock Event to help farmers make informed business decisions.
The Swift-EA tool allows farmers to obtain an overview of their environmental performance and is designed to use as a standalone tool or in conjunction with existing data collection services such as a Farm Assurance audit.
With 85% of greenhouse gas emissions generated in food production coming from the farm, there is increasing pressure for the farming industry to help drive down emissions. As a result, the amount of food processors using environmental footprint assessments with their farm suppliers is on the increase.
Ben Braou, Alltech E-CO2 business general manager, says the fact reduced carbon footprint is linked to increased farm efficiencies and profitability also means all farmers could benefit from carbon footprinting as part of their business management. Such a strategy is particularly important when considering making changes to business scale or structure.
“At a time when dairy farmers may be reacting to the removal of milk quotas, we would urge any that are looking to expand or change their approach to use environmental assessments to aid their decision making,” he says.
“An environmental assessment really will reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the business, some of which may otherwise remain hidden, and can be very beneficial in providing guidance on future direction.”
The Alltech E-CO2 Swift-EA assessment tools are available in formats for dairy and beef farms as well as pig, broiler, turkey and egg producers.
For more information, visit stand alltech-e-co2.com or stand AH119.
Forage additive added to Ecosyl range
A new silage additive which claims to maximise aerobic stability of grass, maize and whole crop silages at feed-out is being launched.
Ecocool from Volac has been proven by the company to provide up to an additional four days of stability over untreated silage, thereby offering farmers more flexibility with their forage and reducing the risk of yeast and mould growth. These four days could save up to £7,000 in lost feed value in a 1,000t clamp of maize, representing about a 4:1 on investment.
Ecocool will join the Ecosyl range of additives and includes a new strain of buchneri bacteria – PJB – together with the widely recognises L plantarum MTD/1.
PJB has been developed to improve aerobic stability. It has long acting properties and produces acetic acid which has anti fungal properties to control aerobic spoilage and give silage a longer “shelf life” at feed out. The plantarum helps achieve a rapid fermentation in the clamp, helps reduce dry matter losses and improve animal performance.
Volac’s Derek Nelson says Ecocool has been developed to meet the growing demand for a low volume application product for large scale farmers and contractors to combat aerobic stability issues.
“Aerobic stability is becoming an increasingly important issue since many farmers are making higher dry matter grass, cereal and maize silage. Also with many more farms buffer-feeding or housing cows all year round, the risk of aerobic spoilage is considerably higher,” he says.
Find out more about Ecocool on stand FF213.
Caged platform aids safety around slurry pits
A steel safety cage that prevents falling in and drowning when agitating and spreading slurry will help improve health and safety on farm.
See also: Health and safety advice
Northern Irish dairy farmers Alan and Colette Martin have designed Slurrysafe, a safety platform for fitting to the concrete wall of an open slurry pit, with the aim of improving safety. This follows alarming statistics from the Irish Health and Safety Authority that shows 21% of childhood deaths and 8% of elderly deaths on farms were from drowning over a 10-year period. In the UK, 5% of all farm fatalities were caused by drowning from 2007-2012.
The railed-in platform has an agitation point and a separate extraction point for the hose pipe, explains Mrs Martin.
“It creates a caged-in effect, removing the risk of the farmer or contractor falling in while adjusting the agitator. It also ends the danger of anybody or animal falling into the pit due to the gate being left open while spreading slurry,” she says.
Find out more on stand SI298.
Triple action phosphorous fertiliser hits market
A triple action, phased release phosphorous fertiliser has been produced for use in acidic soils.
Multiphos from Fertium Expertia UK combines three different types of phosphate in one granule to provide the nutrient as the grass plant needs it.
Mono-Calcium phosphate is water soluble and provides quick absorption, while Di-Calcium phosphate is provided for medium term solubilisation. Tri-Calcium phosphate then provides long term availability. Zinc has also been added to the product to promote animal and plant health.
General manager for Fertium Expertia UK, Martin Driscoll, claims Multiphos promotes excellent use of phosphorus by the plant.
For more information, contact Martin Driscoll on 07808 265 189 or visit stand FF238.