National farming innovation award has expanded with over 20 finalists
The National Dairy Innovation Award is in its sixth year and has grown to over 20 finalists this year, for the first time, writes Jason Webb.
The award rewards a new product or service, which has been launched in the past 12 months, that has revolutionised some aspect of dairy farming.
As well as an overall winner, there will also be awards in three individual sections — scientific, technology and engineering.
The engineering entries are previewed here.
Some of this year’s finalists will make their worldwide debut at Saturday’s National Dairy Show.
This includes finalist Hoofmeister, which is a portable foot bath that is being launched on Saturday.
As time becomes a very precious commodity in every day farming life, farmers are becoming more reliant on easy-to-use technology that delivers the desired results.
North Cork Dairy Services sees hoof care is one of the biggest challenges for expanding herds.
Farmers that want to reduce bottle necks in the parlour can now place their Hoofmeister heavy duty foot bath in other strategic locations on the farm.
Following two years of research on farms in Ireland and abroad, they found having a foot bath that carries 400 litres of water on board and can be transported easily by tractor was a logical step forward, to deliver hoof care treatments and reduce constraints on time.
The process is simple, and most importantly, safe for both the animal and the farmer, as the cow does all the work, in a stress-free environment.
Additional features that can be added to the Hoofmeister foot bath include a heavy duty crush gate, and cow treatment attachments, like hoof paring.
Donegal based EkoChute offer several new hoof paring crates to the Irish market.
Their manual crate is aimed at the farmers’ market, with an attractive price tag.
It features a self catching front gate which also can be fully opened.
The under-support has two 16cm wide belly bands, and safety self-locking winches with folding handle.
The finish includes a checkered plate floor, and it is completely hot-dip galvanised.
All leg supports are unique, with ergonomic front leg support, and a back tube with leg fixation system that is gasspringed.
This W-shaped back tube gives added safety, as the left and right leg fit into their designated positions.
Anthony Lyons is a National Dairy Innovation Award finalist on Saturday with the ‘Pop-On Cattle Safety Device’.
The Westmeath developed product is an innovative farm safety device for use in cattle crushes/gates.
It prevents cattle from going forward or backwards in a cattle crush.By using the handle, it can be lifted on and off a cattle crush in seconds, and is height adjustable.
It has an anti-theft locking system, where a padlock can be applied for safety and security purposes.
New business Agrify Solutions are a finalist with ‘Tyre2Tyre’ which is a pending patent product.
This invention can be used to safely recover a flat wheel, by pumping it and getting the vehicle back on the road without the need for a compressor, wheel replacement, or other high tech equipment.
This product is relevant in the agri-sector and also the automotive sector.
Collins Pumps have developed a customised mobile milk unit.
The unit is unique as it has battery or electric operated pump options.
The battery option is easy and quick to charge.
A flow metre is fitted, and the portable units are easy to wash.The custom options include a ATV trailer unit which can include lights for road use.
The Dairy Geyser is a diesel powered hot water boiler ideal for the dairy and parlour.
The system works with automatic wash systems on bulk tanks.
It provides high volume at high temperatures and only heats volume needed which has savings on energy bills.
It can also work with high pressure power washer and suitable for hard water areas.
