Robotic Injection System Could Save Dairies Big Money
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Two California dairymen believe that a robotic vaccination system they invented called SURESHOT could save large dairy operations several thousand dollars a year. Co-developers Marinus Dijkstra and Alexander Chuck, who have 20 years dairying experience, say their system can save about $85 a cow on labor, keep cows more healthy, and possibly get an additional $200 income per cow simply by obtaining 100 percent compliance rates. Dijkstra manages milking operations on two farms for Cottonwood Dairy of San Jacinto, Calif., and Chuck manages Cottonwood Compost, which produces soil amendments from manure generated at the dairy.
The SURESHOT robotic system automatically administers vaccinations to cattle in a controlled environment, using RFID tags on each animal to verify animal and dosage requirements. Dijkstra says robotic vaccinations are just an addition to robotic systems already being used for milking and feeding dairy cattle.
“Vaccinating large herds like ours requires a lot of labor and record keeping, and it’s not something handled by one or two people,” says Dijkstra. “It’s difficult to find employees to handle the work and educate them for compliance requirements, and it’s always a struggle to find and identify the cows that need the vaccinations.”
SURESHOT selects cows needing a vaccination and directs them through an automated gate to a holding area. A robotic arm reads the RFID ear tag on the animal, determines the vaccination needed, then delivers the injection. Electronic tracking and dosing information is integrated into the computerized dairy management system that maintains each animal’s feeding, milk production, reproduction and health records.
Dijkstra and Chuck have applied for a provisionary patent on their system, named the new company Pharm Robotics, and are working with Sprint Accelerator, Dairy Farmers of America, Cobank and other industry experts and mentors to build and test the prototype.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Marinus Dijkstra, Cottonwood Dairy, 2733 Cottonwood Ave., San Jacinto, Calif. 92582.
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Robotic Injection System Could Save Dairies Big Money DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Two California dairymen believe that a robotic vaccination system they invented called SURESHOT could save large dairy operations several thousand dollars a year Co-developers Marinus Dijkstra and Alexander Chuck who have 20 years dairying experience say their system can save about $85 a cow on labor keep cows more healthy and possibly get an additional $200 income per cow simply by obtaining 100 percent compliance rates Dijkstra manages milking operations on two farms for Cottonwood Dairy of San Jacinto Calif and Chuck manages Cottonwood Compost which produces soil amendments from manure generated at the dairy The SURESHOT robotic system automatically administers vaccinations to cattle in a controlled environment using RFID tags on each animal to verify animal and dosage requirements Dijkstra says robotic vaccinations are just an addition to robotic systems already being used for milking and feeding dairy cattle “Vaccinating large herds like ours requires a lot of labor and record keeping and it’s not something handled by one or two people ” says Dijkstra “It’s difficult to find employees to handle the work and educate them for compliance requirements and it’s always a struggle to find and identify the cows that need the vaccinations ” SURESHOT selects cows needing a vaccination and directs them through an automated gate to a holding area A robotic arm reads the RFID ear tag on the animal determines the vaccination needed then delivers the injection Electronic tracking and dosing information is integrated into the computerized dairy management system that maintains each animal’s feeding milk production reproduction and health records Dijkstra and Chuck have applied for a provisionary patent on their system named the new company Pharm Robotics and are working with Sprint Accelerator Dairy Farmers of America Cobank and other industry experts and mentors to build and test the prototype Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Marinus Dijkstra Cottonwood Dairy 2733 Cottonwood Ave San Jacinto Calif 92582
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