1. THINGS to CONSIDER with Automated Calf Feeders Neil Anderson Elora, Ontario neil.anderson@ontario.ca OABP November 14, 2012 Practice in Evolution Adapting to the High Tech World

2. EVOLUTION …calf rearing well-being of calves regulatory requirement industry expectation continuous improvement 20% of body weight suckling group housing our contribution?

3. expectations results excellent to unacceptable calf health programs ADAPTING PRACTICE to TECHNOLOGY design concepts abandoned automated feeder abandoned automated feeder ….calf rearing with automated feeders

4. SEVEN THINGS to CONSIDER 1.screening 2.interview / observe 3.show me 4.identify opportunities 5.greater detail 6.plans / timelines 7.date for review a (RAMP-like) tool for identifying opportunities improvement maintaining success

5. CALVES & RECORDS condition scales

6. SCREENING X X X X X compliments GEA website

7. MILK FEEDING PRACTICES

8. feeding plans …a comparison PROGRAMMING P1 – 5L – 6L/d ~ 7 days P2 – 6L – 8L/d ~10 days P3 – 8L/d ~29 days P4 - 8L – 2L/d ~14 days 1.8L / meal pre-programmed 20 – 25% of body weight intake - nature’s way

9. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler X X X PROGRAMMING P1 – 3L/meal – 12L/day ~ 39 days P2 – 12L – 0L/d – 14 days

10. clean float, powder outlet weigh powder measure water weigh powder compare to computer adjust as needed look for reasons mixing ratio

11. automated time weight frequency load cell new

12. INSTALLATION conveniences

13. parallel / simultaneous Forster-Technik peristaltic pump

14. parallel Urban level controlled

15. faster acceptance easier training decreased time / meal less lineups simultaneous access & feeding separate feeding stations parallel Urban

16. parallel …increased intakes

17. …loitering …bullying daily allowance meal size flow rate station design collapsed nipple age distribution polite feeding stalls video

18. ELECTRICAL Grounding refusal hesitant low intakes sickness autofeeder water line to main panel

19. operator comfort & convenience warm room +

20. SANITATION / CLEANING stations autofeeder mixer

21. design nipples over gutter flies & cats stalls, floors cleaning ease wet pens floor drains gutter - rats

22. …designed to discourage cleaning no water hose no sloped floor no floor drains no slobber cups no sink / warm water hand wash weekly bucket to dump building inspector challenges

23. design cold barn warm room cold barn warm room recessed inside warm room recessed inside warm room curbs & floor drain curbs & floor drain wash line into floor drain wash line into floor drain cold & freezing dust & dirt electronics clean room

24. …designed for ease water hose sloped floor floor drains pig slats slobber cups hoses daily new hoses new nipples water video

25. HOUSING / GROUPING / FEEDS

26. OPPORTUNITIES higher scores orange or red investigate in greater detail

27. PLANS & DATES achieve BCS of 4 at 28 days of age verify doubling birth weight at 56 days age decrease bottle-feeding days; 10 to 5

28. SEVEN THINGS to CONSIDER 1.screening 2.interview / observe 3.show me 4.identify opportunities 5.greater detail 6.plans / timelines 7.date for review a (RAMP-like) tool for identifying opportunities continuing improvement maintaining success

29. THINGS to CONSIDER with Automated Calf Feeders Neil Anderson Elora, Ontario neil.anderson@ontario.ca OABP November 14, 2012 Practice in Evolution Adapting to the High Tech World