Phenomenal results with HyCare

Just 18 months ago, the cubicle stable of Dutch dairy farmer Jos Seuntiëns (210 cows, 4 milking robots) was modified to implement the HyCare hygiene management method developed by MS Schippers. This method focuses on achieving maximum hygiene and preventing infections. Six aspects were fundamentally approached in this respect: sealing all pores in feed alleys, creating a pathogen-free living environment, ensuring clean and pathogen-free drinking water, controlling pests, implementing structural claw care and supporting a healthy transition (ref. frame). Now that hard data can be retrieved from these cows, European Division Manager Dairy at MS Schippers, Wilco de Crom, is pleasantly surprised. “We knew in advance that it would work to some extent, as HyCare has already achieved significant improvements in pig farms, but these results exceed our expectations”. Logic does dictate that these results were on the horizon. “We know that 85-90% of problems with cows can be traced back to infections. Being able to break that cycle automatically means taking a big leap forward.”

Significant increase in milk production

The results: In 1.5 years, the average cow lifespan has increased by 6 months. And that’s a lot. The average lifespan increase in the domestic market was not even a month, while the industry as a whole has the ambition to increase the lifespan of cows by 6 months in 2020. A longer lifespan equals more older cows with a higher milk production, which increased by a 1,000kg to an annual 11,500kg. The fat content also increased by 0.11%, as did the protein content by 0.09%.
This means that an additional 245 metric tonnes of milk can be produced with the same environmental footprint. Every extra litre of milk offers a margin return (milk price minus feed expenses) of € 0.22 per kg. This amounts to almost € 54,000 of extra returns! Added to these returns are a decrease in health costs and another benefit that’s harder to quantify but is important nonetheless: the daily work became easier and more pleasurable as few cows experience health problems and they now happily walk towards the milking robot.

Obtaining more practical insights

In the months to come, more HyCare data will be measured at this company. Come January, MS Schippers will even open its own test farm where the concept will be further detailed and in-depth information will be shared with visitors.

European Division Manager Dairy Wilco expects the concept to be gradually implemented with more companies in the next year. For the sake of routing, this will being with companies who work with milking robots. These companies will also need to have, or install, a hygiene lock to create a first line of defence.
He stresses that livestock farmers will receive extensive support from MS Schippers in this process. “It all starts with a company scan to map the current situation and identify improvement opportunities. Once we’re up and running, we maintain close contact and talk at least every six weeks. We also involve other parties and persons who enter the farm, to ensure that everyone is committed to success.”