Dairy Farm IoT Data Analytics
How one farm in Taiwan benefited from IoT data analytics in their barn, manufacturing, and warehouse.
Disclosure: I’m the Co-Founder of FOX-TECH CO the manufacturer and developer of the TEMPHAWK solution.
Too Hot to Handle for Dairy
Unlike other animals, dairy cows are now able to dissipate the heat load efficiently. Some animals like dogs release heat by panting and sweating through their feet pads and nose. However, dairy cows can feel hot 10–15ºC sooner than humans do. At the same time the increase of humidity reduces the transpiration in the cow; causing the animal to not being able to cool itself. This effectively causes the cow to depress feed intake and impacts the amount of milk produce on a daily basis.
The Deployment in Taiwan
Last summer we deployed our TEMPHAWK solution across different farms in the central south of Taiwan. The farms used our solution to help monitor the barn for high temperature. One of the farms was previously losing <25% of their milk yield because of heat stress in cows during the summer months. Taiwan summer is well known for being hot and humid having temperature of over 35ºC+.
By using the TEMPHAWK solution farmers were able to provide their farm hands with a solution that will notify them of the temperature and humidity changes across different points in the barn.
Not only were they able to increase their milk yield, but also save electricity by only using the fans in areas where it was required. We are digitally transforming how dairy farms are working and making them more sustainable at the same time.
This is part one of the farm, manufacturing, and warehouse series exploring how IoT data analytics can have a positive impact on traditional businesses.
Learn More at: www.temphawk.net
References
Philep UK and Ireland (2017) Managing Heat Stress in Dairy Cows (video), Philep UK and Ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJERm7wAbzw
De Rensis, F., & Scaramuzzi, R. J. (2003). Heat stress and seasonal effects on reproduction in the dairy cow — a review. Theriogenology, 60(6), 1139–1151.
