There was a lot to discover at the 2024 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, as companies from all across the globe showcased new innovative offerings for dairy operations and paid homage to technologies of the past. Continue reading to see what Progressive Dairy editors found while attending this year’s event.

GEA's 100th anniversary display of the Surge bucket milker. Photo by Karen Lee.

 

GEA’s 100th anniversary display of the Surge bucket milker

Alongside its latest technologies and innovations – including the latest in teat dip and parlor wash controls to high-tech milk monitoring and AI detection of lameness and body condition scoring – the GEA display let World Dairy Expo attendees take a stroll down memory lane with a commemorative display honoring the 100th anniversary of the Surge bucket milker.

—Karen Lee, managing editor

Techmix Replenish Ab+. Photo by Jenna Hurty-Person.

Techmix releases new electrolyte complete with bioactive compounds from colostrum

A scouring calf is never a sight any dairy person wants to see. To help calves recover faster, Techmix has added another tool to the calf care toolbox, Replenish Ab+. The product combines the company’s Bluelight Replenish electrolyte formula with the power of maternally-derived bioactives. These include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme, neutrophils and macrophages, cytokines and oligosaccharides. Together these factors assist the calf’s immune system in fighting some of the common causes of scours including bovine coronavirus, E. coli F18, E. coli K99, Salmonella Dublin and Salmonella enterica.

—Jenna Hurty-Person, editor

FutureCow OnFarm SmartLab. Photo by Matti McBride.

AI-powered on-farm lab to test mastitis

FutureCow is bringing mastitis analysis to the farm with the new OnFarm SmartLab. This system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help identify pathogens and provides results and suggested treatment plans within 24 hours. Compatible with the OnFarm app, results can be sent directly to a producer’s mobile device. One can identify clinical and subclinical mastitis, run cultures for bulk tanks and string samples all at the dairy. 

­­­—Matti McBride, editor

Bird Control Group AVIX Autonomic Mark II. Photo by Audrey Schmitz.

Bird Control Group introduces bird deterrent system

The AVIX Autonomic Mark II is a laser bird-repelling system developed by Bird Control Group that can be used on dairy farms to protect livestock. The system is fully autonomous and uses green laser beams, which birds perceive as physical danger, to discourage them from entering certain areas. These lasers are non-lethal and cause no harm to the environment or the birds, making the system eco-friendly compared to traditional methods such as chemicals, sound cannons or netting. Additionally, the system can be programmed to adapt to specific environmental conditions, such as varying light levels, ensuring its effectiveness day or night.

One of the key benefits of the laser technology is its ability to cover large areas, offering 24-7 protection to prevent birds from roosting, eating feed and contaminating feedbunks. It can be configured to move its laser patterns in various directions, which prevents birds from becoming habituated to its presence. Its effectiveness is further enhanced by the fact that birds, once scared off, tend to avoid the area long-term.

—Audrey Schmitz, editor 

CowManager Sort my Cow. Photo by Karen Lee.

CowManager’s Sort my Cow

CowManager unveiled a sort gate with a pneumatic-free design to reduce cow stress. It uses electromagnets for locking, eliminating the need for a compressor, which minimizes noise and points of mechanical wear and tear. Made in the USA, the stainless-steel design is built to withstand extreme conditions.

The sort gate reads from both RFID and the CowManager ear sensor, which now includes lifetime monitoring from calf to cow. Product manager Dr. Peter Hut explains they studied the behavior of 5,000 calves in the past year to integrate algorithms for calf behavior, feeding and health. It uses AI to detect health issues within an individual farm and calves within a close age range. “Cow behavior is quite stable, but calf eating time increases from day one,” Hut says. The system can flag calves seven days before they show clinical signs of illness.

The lifetime monitoring system is available now, while the sort gate can be preordered, with product expected to be available in the first quarter of 2025.

Click here to see a video of the sort gate in action.

—Karen Lee, managing editor

Acepsis NOVA SMART Milking Hygiene System. Photo by Jenn Coyne.

New system puts dairies in control of milk quality

The largest herd health challenge to dairy farms each year is mastitis, with an estimated $2 billion loss in revenue annually. Acepsis is looking to reduce those costs with an improved milking hygiene system to serve as the first line of defense for mastitis prevention.

Introducing the NOVA SMART Milking Hygiene System, this technology consists of concentrated precursors and a patented production system to create pre- and post-milking formulations specific to herds and the ability to adjust as needed, allowing dairies to be in complete control of this aspect in milk quality. 

The system uses a concentrated chlorine dioxide-based solution at a higher oxidation capacity and then delivers the formulations at safe concentrations for udder, teat skin and operator safety. It’s estimated that the two 55-gallon drums of pre- and post-milking concentrated solutions can produce the same amount as more than 14,000 gallons of ready-to-use products, providing optimal sustainability for dairy operations.

—Jenn Coyne, editor

Monarch MK-V Dairy Feed Pusher. Photo by Audrey Schmitz.

Fully electric and autonomous tractor for feed push-up

The Monarch MK-V Dairy Feed Pusher is an advanced, electric autonomous tractor designed specifically for dairy farming operations. This tractor has capabilities to handle feed push-up autonomously, ensuring efficiency and precision while reducing the need for manual labor. Powered by a fully electric drivetrain, the tractor operates without emissions, contributing to a more sustainable farming environment. This feature not only reduces the farm's carbon footprint but also provides a quieter and more comfortable environment for the cows. The tractor takes six hours to fully charge and has a runtime of up to 14 hours. 

The tractor is also equipped with Monarch’s WingspanAI platform, which collects and analyzes real-time data on feed consumption and operational performance. This allows farmers to track the effectiveness of feed pushing, monitor tractor operations remotely and optimize their farm’s efficiency through data-driven decision-making. It also includes an exportable power system, allowing it to be used as a mobile generator and power source on the farm.

—Audrey Schmitz, editor

Bioret Agri Aquastar Ultimate Waterbed. Photo by Kimmi Devaney.

Aquastar Ultimate Waterbed from Bioret Agri

Finding new ways to cool off on a hot summer day is on almost everyone’s minds heading into the spring and summer months. While dairy producers have more off-farm options to beat the heat, cows can float on this waterbed by Bioret Agri.

The Aquastar Ultimate Waterbed is a single-chamber waterbed with a latex underlay that has been proven to be 10°F to 12°F cooler than other lying surface options due to the cool water inside the pouch in the waterbed. When a cow steps up into the stall and onto the waterbed, she is standing on the foam, but as she lies down, she will be floating on the water pouch, which helps her to shed excess body heat into the pouch that is then dissipated and released, since the water pouch is larger than the girth of the animal. Within a minute or so of that cow rising and leaving the stall, the temperature of the waterbed will drop 10°F to 12°F to be ready for the next cow.

—Kimmi Devaney, editor