It was launched at the recent Waikato field days, sharing the GEA Farm Technologies site with that company’s MIone robotic milker.
GEA marketing manager Nicky Bowden says strong visitor interest is because the iCore accepts upgrades and advances, avoiding risk of redundancy as new dairy technology enters the market.
In its most basic form the iCore starts as a high-spec electronic cluster remover, economical to install. The user may at any time add extra levels of automation to the milking point, to suit operating needs and budget.
A Matamata farmer, Neil Rowling, is an early adopter of the iCore system, installed to help future-proof his new 54 bail Milfos rotary platform.
His system includes an iDentity herd management package that can draft three ways and has the option to feed according to yield or weight through the in-shed feeding system.
Avoiding obsolescence prompted Rowling to install the technology.
GEA’s iPud (platform universal device) incorporates a leg separator template with built-in teat spray nozzles, an illuminated back screen for stripping quarters and cluster support for cups.
High output LED spotlights with the iPud help milkers to examine teat condition.
With upgrades the iPud can give operators a ‘heads down’ display of colour coded alerts from the iCore management system right where the action happens – easier on workers’ bodies than looking upwards at bail displays.
Upcoming upgrades will enable the iCore system to provide information on mastitis, milk composition and somatic cell data.
GEA also says its new Milfos Gen 2 bail improves cow flow and comfort. Features include fewer protrusions, making it easier to keep the bail area cleaner; and the bail design means cows flow in and out of the bails incurrs less impact of animals with the bail frame.
Meanwhile the Milfos iFlow rotary platform is now suspended on nylon rollers (no bearings) that are smooth-running and need little maintenance. It has automatic greasing.
Neil Rowling says GEA Farm Technologies’ effluent management systems can be factored into the dairy design.
www.gea-farmtechnologies.co.nz
