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Practical innovation at the heart of Dairy-Tech 2023

from Farmers Guide March 2023

from Farmers Guide March 2023, page 248

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This year’s Dairy-Tech event has been hailed as the best and most successful show to date, attracting a record-breaking 7,000 visitors and 320 exhibitors – as well as playing host to 80 new product launches. Sarah Kidby attended the show to see some of the innovations on o er.

Crowds packed out the Dairy and Innovation Hubs at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 1st February, as speakers discussed a wide range of topical issues – from rising input costs, regenerative agriculture and carbon emissions; to the dairy industry’s reputation, funding opportunities and mental health. Keynote speakers also explored the state of the dairy industry in a panel discussion covering food security, trade deals and government support. Meanwhile, the Lameness Village was a popular new addition to the show, featuring regular foot trimming demonstrations.

RABDF managing director Matthew Knight commented: “There was a de nite buzz on the show oor, with no spare seats or standing room for many Dairy and Innovation Hub sessions.

“Despite optimism in the sector over the past nine months, there is much uncertainty with milk price cuts, high input costs remaining, labour issues and increasing pressure to reduce emissions. Visitors had a de nite requirement to understand better the market situation and how they can manage such pressures.“

Water intake monitor scoops innovation award

Dairy innovator smaXtec won this year’s Royal Dairy Innovation Award for its unique water intake monitor, TruDrinking. The award recognises companies exhibiting at the show with a practical product or service that provides the most signi cant innovation for the future of dairying.

The TruDrinking bolus was launched in November 2022 and is the rst product of its kind to accurately record individual cow water intake, helping farmers to optimise milk production and animal management. It records how often and how many litres of water a cow consumes a day using a bolus in the cows' reticulum, which measures changes to body temperature after each drinking. The information is then fed back to the farmer in real-time.

The technology can immediately detect any disruption to normal water consumption, which can be an early indicator of emerging health problems or ag an issue with the water supply. The bolus also records inner body temperature, rumination and activity. continued over…

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