Harvestore® Precision Feeding
Forage Variability Can Make Feeding Pure Guesswork
Everyday, producers across North America lose thousands of dollars through inefficient feeding because of the time lag between testing moisture and laboratory nutrient analysis and actual ration mixing – an average default measurement for nutritionist rations – but they will not reflect the higher or lower actual moisture content and nutrient value of the feed fed days or weeks later.
At best, nutrient value of feedstuffs is generally within a range, but is not precise. Ingredient moisture varies as it’s loaded into storage, components may be inaccurately weighed and dry matter and nutrients may be only a general guess based on old information.
As a result, nutritionists are required to recommend overfeeding essential nutrients to provide a safety margin to account for an anticipated variability in feedstuffs –they want to assure their ration recommendations meet the herd’s minimal nutritional needs. If the nutritionist know dry matter targets will be accurate, they can fine-tune rations to reduce feed cost, and not risk production drops.
Oftentimes, sending a forage sample into a laboratory for analysis is done only after the fat test or milk production has dropped, providing a retrospective analysis of why.
Here’s How It Works
- Set up the default value for each nutrient in the DTM Feeding Software based upon the laboratory baseline obtained for each feed component
- Enter the feeding ratio as defined by the nutritionist
- Feeding data is then transferred from the DTM Feeding Software to the Top Scale indicator on the mixer, via a wireless connection or a memory card
- During the loading of each ingredient, the NIR Analyzers performs a NIR analysis in real time for the actual values of dry matter, starch, crude protein, ADF, NDF, ash and crude fat- on-the-go in less than 30 seconds
- The analysis is displayed on the Top Scale indicator, which adjusts the as-is target weight for all the ingredients based upon “real” dry matter quantity, matching it with the ideal ration from the nutritionist
- During the loading and preparation of the ration, the data is saved on the Top Scale and then returned to the office on the main PC, via wireless or memory card
- The DTM stores all data and generates detailed statistical reports based upon quantities of all ingredients, costs, nutrients, manpower time, and the benefits received from saved material and labor costs, as well as nutritional performance
System Components
DTM™ IC Feeding Management Software
Easy to use and operate on multiple PCs. Allows programming rations and unloading programs on the PC and transfers them to the Top Scale through a memory card or wirelessly. More importantly, it acquires historical data coming from the scale for statistical reports on the processes performed along with feedstuff inventory control on both quantity and value.
DG-Scheduler
Software for managing process automation
A PC program with a friendly user interface, the DG-Scheduler is able to set up programs with specific starting times for execution of rations and/or unloading programs. The saved program is transferred to the Top Scale through the memory card. Rations and unloading programs are started automatically at the time set by the operator.
Top Scale Weighing Indicator
Controls feed adjustments based on real time information
The Top Scale Weighing Indicator is the heart of the Harvestore FeedScan precisionFEEDING System, receiving information on dry matter and nutritional component variation in real time. Features refusal management and hosts up to 100 recipes, 48 distribution programs and 64 pens.
Motor Control
Automatic process control
Activation by the Top Scale indicator activates the relative relay in the motor control box. The motor control allows for a series of relay contacts to be activated, and cam be set by the customer depending upon needs. It is supplied in both wired and wireless versions. Every box is made of 2 output banks, which control 8 relays each, for a total of 16 outputs per each box.
NIR Forage Analyzer
Real time forage analysis
The highly durable NIR Analyzer scans dry or wet feeds for dry matter and nutrient content and sends this information to an Intelligent Ration Box (IRB), which then sends the data to Top Scale indicator. Its infrared measurements are extremely accurate, using a wide scan area for better sampling capability; analyzes corn silage, hay, high moisture corn, alfalfa hay, haylage and TMR.