The Lely Discovery is keeping slats cleaner and cows healthier

To assist the farm with routine tasks George has adopted some of the robotic technology from Lely and uses the Juno feed pusher and two Discovery slat scrapers.

The machines help to keep feed pushed up to cows all the time, increasing dry matter intake and keeps the slats, beds and cows cleaner and healthier.

“The Discovery works well, the slats are a lot cleaner which in turn leaves the beds cleaner and ultimately the cows are cleaner,” commented George. “It’s very easy to use and there is little maintenance with it, plus it only charges 60% of the time and works 40% of the time, it does the shed nine times a day which leaves everything a lot cleaner.

“I also noticed a lot less lameness as there is less manure in the shed,” concluded George.

A clean and dry floor in the barn has an influence on several cow-health aspects. It gives the animals a safe environment where they can express their natural behaviour. It keeps cows’ feet and hooves cleaner and healthier, which in the end ensures a better milk yield. It keeps cubicles cleaner and drier and it is therefore easier for the farmer to take care of them. Clean cubicles have a positive influence on udder health and hygiene due to a lower infection risk. Research shows that the prevalence of hoof diseases in a barn with an automatic scraper are c. 50% lower compared to a barn without an automatic scraper (Dörfler, 2014).

Research by Chiumenti A. etal 2017 has shown the environmental benefit of the Lely Discovery. In this study it reduced carbon dioxide by 52%, methane by 59% and nitrous oxide by 30%.

The Discovery mobile barn cleaner range is a battery-driven vehicle. The built-in ultrasound sensor ensures that the Discovery follows the walls at a pre-determined distance. A special element of the design of the Discovery barn cleaner is the so-called ring at the front. This feature prevents the device from being blocked.

In addition, the ring ensures proper following of walls as well as steering clear of obstacles. The built-in gyroscope enables the Discovery to keep track of its position at all times.

The Discovery 90SW model, equipped with water spray, improves the cleaning results of the Lely Discovery mobile barn cleaner. It is known that in certain circumstances like a dry environment, in low cow occupied barns, barns with wide walking alleys and in well ventilated barns, a thin layer of dry manure may be formed on top of the slatted floor. This layer makes the floor slippery. By spraying water, just in front of the scraper, the floor is cleaned better and does not become slippy.

The Discovery mobile barn cleaner is a valuable and economically justified investment.

All in all, the Discovery mobile barn cleaner provides flexibility and is the solution for keeping your cow housing clean – 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

0% finance is available on the Lely Discovery range and barn products call Lely Center Eglish on 02837548228 for more information.