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Smart, practical solutions that deliver results – that’s the theme for GEA’s innovations unveiled at World Dairy Expo, Oct. 1-4. From the latest in teat dip and parlor wash controls to high-tech milk monitoring and AI detection of lameness and body condition scoring, GEA’s new products offer something for every dairy farm.
“This year’s World Dairy Expo is even more significant as we celebrate 20 years of sponsoring the ice cream stand to raise money for local FFA programs. We’re also honoring the 100th anniversary of the SURGE bucket milker with a commemorative display,” says Robin Matthayasack, director of marketing and communication for GEA North America. “These milestones and our latest product innovations showcase GEA’s commitment to the next century of dairy farming.”
Check out these six new products and features:
1. Monitor lameness and BCS with AI
GEA purchased CattleEye Ltd. earlier this year, adding a pioneering artificial intelligence system to their automated animal health portfolio. CattleEye uses AI technology to quickly detect and predict lameness in cows. It also provides critical data to assess body condition scores (BCS), which helps analyze cow health after calving, determine ration adjustments and monitor the cow’s general physical condition.
This information allows you to take immediate action to improve the welfare or productivity of your herd. The data can be accessed anytime via a dedicated smartphone app. CattleEye can be integrated into new and existing farms, regardless of the type or brand of milking system.
2. Control your wash and so much more
The GEA DCPro dairy control will be your new best friend in the parlor. Have complete CIP wash control of your milking and cooling systems, temperature recordings, tank fill levels and accompanying alarms. The integrated cloud-based analytics are designed to give you peace of mind when preserving your high-quality milk.
Top features include:
- Summary for all wash stages with peak and drain conductivity and temperatures
- Full tank silo wash, agitation and cooling control (up to four vessels)
- Manual or automatic loadout controls
- Milk vat control (milk pump controlled off level or flow)
3. Luxurious teat dip at a smart price
You can have it all with Kommand™ Lux, a non-iodine low-drip barrier teat dip. Its ready-to-use formula forms a viscous barrier on teats to protect against mastitis-causing pathogens between milkings.
It contains GEA’s exclusive LactiFusion™ technology, bonding dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DDBSA) and lactic acid for dynamic killing power. It stacks up against the best 1% iodine teat dips at an incredibly economical price to meet the cost pressures dairy farms face today.
4. High-tech milk monitoring
Today’s dairy cows produce more milk than ever before. The new GEA DigiFlow flow-through milk meter supports increased production, with higher capacity and more precise monitoring during milking. Farms can achieve greater efficiency, smarter animal health management and enhanced milk quality.
What makes this new meter better?
- No milk flow bottlenecks — milk flows continuously through large inlets and outlets without slowdowns.
- Precise real-time milk measurement — engineered to measure milk accurately, even during the highest and lowest periods of milk flow.
- Stable vacuum levels — provide the right balance between air and milk volumes, nearly eliminating vacuum fluctuations for the gentlest milking.
- Accurate detaching — more precise unit detach thanks to better measurement capabilities.
- Conductivity and temperature monitoring — during the milking and wash processes for even more cow and parlor insights.
The GEA DigiFlow is part of GEA’s smart digital milking control package designed to take your parlor into the future.
5. Next-generation milking control
It’s increasingly important for parlor operators to quickly recognize key information and operate controls intuitively. The new DigiTron milking parlor control prioritizes operator comfort with ergonomic positioning and easy-to-use buttons that can be customized for your farm.
The LED lights provide clear, color-coded messages that are easily visible from a distance at any angle in the parlor. DigiTron seamlessly integrates with GEA’s DairyNet management software, streamlining diagnostics and system updates.
6. Automated batch-style milking
Automated batch-style milking combines the labor savings and technology benefits of a robot with the management style of a parlor. With the GEA DairyRobot R9600 automated batch milking system, cows are milked in groups at fixed milking times using a row of box robots, simulating a conventional parlor setup.
This milking style significantly reduces the need for several well-trained people to perform cow prep procedures and handle milking tasks during every milking shift. Unlike a parlor, this system does not require anyone to be present in the milking area, reducing labor costs and the challenge of finding reliable workers. It also gives dairies the flexibility to upgrade their milking facilities while using existing barns, holding pens and sorting areas.
Check out these new products at GEA’s World Dairy Expo booth in Exhibition Hall – 2301 and 4313. Not attending? Contact your local dealer for more information.
About GEA
GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services.
With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated revenues of about EUR 5.4 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2023 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customer’s production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: “Engineering for a better world.” GEA is listed on the German MDAX, the STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is among the companies comprising the DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability as well as Dow Jones Sustainability World and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Indices.
