The innovation centre in Calveslage

Practical ideas for animal welfare and smart farming are devised by the dozen in Calveslage. At EuroTier in Hanover, Big Dutchman arouses the visitors’ interest with many innovations that combine animal welfare with profitability. In the run-up to the trade fair, two of these innovations have already been awarded a silver medal. The innovation centre located north of Vechta is, moreover, hoping to win the title “Innovation of the Year” with another product – and with good chances of success.

PigT is a "pig toilet” that separates urine and faeces directly after excretion and removes them mechanically from standard pig houses. This process significantly reduces ammonia emissions. Roughage and litter can be added to the pens without causing problems, allowing the pigs to exhibit their natural behaviours of foraging and rooting.

PigT was awarded a silver innovation medal by the DLG shortly before EuroTier, just like the drive wheel for dry feeding systems that is entirely cast in elastic plastic. The new drive wheel improves the distribution of force in long systems and is extremely quiet while transporting feed to the animals: less noise, less stress.

Another clever idea from Calveslage now made the shortlist for the much sought-after title “Innovation of the Year”, which the agriculture publishing house “Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag” (dlv) in Munich awards at every EuroTier. Under the name “Xaletto”, the pig equipment supplier presents a straw management system for closed housing that significantly reduces slurry output, and uses many technical tricks to lower labour requirements for this very animal-friendly management concept.

Loosely translated from Italian, “Xaletto” means “to put to bed”. And that is exactly what the concept is all about. The pens are filled with natural straw bedding, which reduces stress and the amount of slurry produced, also thanks to a special feed. The system’s success is based on a clever ventilation system that keeps the straw layer dry at all times. Less straw is required and instead of slurry, solid pig manure is produced. This manure can be processed into humus fertiliser, which can either be spread on the fields or sold.

The idea originates from a farmer from the Oldenburg Münsterland region. It was adopted and further developed into an integrated system by Big Dutchman and feed producer Bröring (Dinklage). “The result is an economical system for animal-friendly and environmentally sound pig production on straw,” promises project manager Daniel Holling from market leader Big Dutchman. Because, as industry experts know, the animal-friendly straw system will only establish itself if it makes economic sense. “The central argument is that Xaletto produces no slurry,” says Holling.

EuroTier-innovations for animal welfare and smart farming

• Xaletto: the economic management system for closed houses with straw bedding
• Less ammonia, more welfare: a toilet helps
• Drive wheel made of cast plastic runs quietly and allows for longer dry feeding systems
• BIG: the first valve for installation at a 30-degree angle
• Monitoring the alarms of all farm locations at all times
• Robust and extremely versatile: the Vario 8L volume dispenser can dose from 100 g to 5 kg
• BigFarmNet statistics tool for sow managers: monitoring the entire production cycle
• Innovative slat anchor can be positioned without special tools
• Small nipple, great effect: Big Dutchman drinker reduces water consumption and amount of slurry

1. Xaletto

The revolutionary straw bedding concept for economical, animal-friendly and environmentally sound pig production in closed houses. Suitable for pig rearing and finishing. For existing barns, new buildings and renovated housing.

2. Pig toilet PigT

Less ammonia, more welfare: PigT is part of a finishing pen with continuous solid floor. Urine and manure are separated directly after excretion and transported from the house at regular intervals. Offering bedding or organic manipulable material is no problem.

3. Wean-to-finish grating

The new grating system for warm regions! Tunnel ventilation with high air exchange rates and the penning system harmonise in an ideal way.

4. Penning system DK

Very efficient, hygienic and stable: the new DK penning system is easily and quickly assembled, easy to clean during daily use and very robust. The doors can be operated single-handed.

5. FusionPRO

Different production rhythms and farm sizes are always a challenge when designing the gestation area. Fusionpro is a new option: a compromise between small groups fed at longitudinal troughs and large groups at ESF stations.

6. Volume dispenser Vario 8 L

Robust and extremely versatile: the new volume dispenser Vario 8 L is the first feed dispenser for sows that is available in all required configurations and that can, moreover, dispense small portions of as little as 100 grams of feed just as precisely as larger rations of up to 5 kilograms.

7. ActiWel variable-restraint pen

Lots of freedom of movement for the sow and a creep for the piglets: the ActiWel variable-restraint pen with farrowing frame.

8. NaturalCare free-movement pen

It’s all in the name: the sow and her piglets can use nearly the entire pen at all times. For veterinary treatments, short-term confinement of the sow is possible.

9. PureLine

Animal-friendly and sustainable: our extensively tested concepts for alternative pig production! Accurate knowledge and tested equipment meet the requirements of any animal welfare certification.

10. Slurry drying with OptiSec

• A trendsetting solution for farms producing large amounts of slurry
• Storage capacity savings
• Ecological and financial benefits

11. BD slat anchor

Whoever wants to fasten pig equipment to the floor knows: slat anchors are the right choice. Positioning the anchors in the slatted floors has been a complicated procedure in the past, however. This statement is no longer true: the Big Dutchman anchor is easy to insert and to position securely and does not require any special tooling.

12. Double hammer mill

The trend to produce mixed feed from home-grown cereals continues. This method allows creating individual feed mixes of a known quality and saves transport costs. The new Big Dutchman hammer mill is very reliable, easy to handle, extremely energy-efficient and it causes little wear and tear on the material.

13. BigFarmNet

A Statistics tool for sow managers

The first statistics tool for sow managers that evaluates the combined feeding and management data for the entire production cycle of each animal – from the dry sow to farrowing – and shows the comprehensive results in a comprehensible on the screen. The tool is very flexible and integrates data from the feeders with the manual inputs of different users, from the service centre to the gestation and farrowing area. This allows farmers to optimise their production on an overall level.

13. BigFarmNet

B Alarm Dashboard Multifarm

Simultaneous monitoring of multiple farms: this extension shows alarm messages from all barns and different locations in one central place and in an easy-to-understand and well-structured manner. Users thus see production issues at first glance.

13. BigFarmNet / FarmBookPro

C Automatic feed order system

Digitisation of the feed supply chain is a win-win-win situation for farmers, feed mills and integrators alike. Farmers receive a simple system for their farm that orders the correct amount of the correct feed at the correct time: automatically, logistically optimised – and without requiring the feeding technology of a specific manufacturer.

Empty silos on the farm are thus a thing of the past, just like the expensive ad-hoc production of feed in the mill.

14. BD fly screen

Considering the latent risk of African swine fever (ASF) transmission, the new BD fly screen is a simple but efficient addition to prevention, hygiene and biosecurity measures on the farm. The fly screen is easy to install in front of fresh air inlets for barns with negative pressure ventilation and easy to clean.

15. LED ceiling lamp Helios

Highest energy efficiency and zero flickering for an absolutely even illumination of your pig house: Helios saves 60 % of energy compared to conventional moisture-proof lamps. The new LED ceiling lamp consists of modular units, has an IP 67 protection rating and is resistant to the ammonia in pig barns.

16. Water-saving drinker WS

With the new WS drinker, pig producers can reduce water consumption and the amount of slurry by up to 10 %. The pigs need to take the entire nipple into their mouth to be able to actuate it. This ensures that no water is lost. A protective collar prevents actuation from the side or use as a toy.

17. AirMaster Blue

An efficient fan that ensures large volume flows and is very resistant to pressure.

• Low energy requirements thanks to the Dynamic MultiStep control principle
• Airtight butterfly shutters block unwanted air and prevent ventilation short-circuiting
• Pressure resistance allows reliable tunnel ventilation in long houses
• Quiet operation reduces stress for the farm staff, neighbours and, most importantly, the animals

18. Drive wheel DR 1500

The first drive wheel for dry feeding systems that is entirely cast in elastic plastic. Thanks to the wheel’s elasticity and an adjusted geometry of the cogs, the number of cogs that draw the carrier discs through the system can differ for the first time and depend on system length and the tensile load. Power is thus transmitted by two to seven (!) cogs, which allows for much longer feeding systems. Another positive effect: the chain runs nearly without “blows” and is thus very quiet.

19. Dry feed valve BIG

BIG is the first computer-controlled dry feed valve that can be installed diagonally, at an angle of up to 30 degrees. This can significantly reduce the length of dry feeding systems in many pig houses: the pipes no longer need to be installed directly above each feeder but can run between two opposite feeders.

Combined with a separate lower part without funnel, this also makes it possible to dispense roughage and short straw, controlled by a computer.

20. OptiPress

Efficient, reliable and easy to maintain: the screw press separator OptiPress is supplied as a mobile unit and characterised by high-quality materials, little wear and thus a long service life.