A recent study shows that an automatic feeding system can help farms achieve significant cost savings and reduce their environmental impact.

Research results show significant savings and emission reductions at farms

Investing in Pellon Group’s automatic Feedline feeding system has been proven to be a profitable investment in the future. The purchase pays for itself through savings on fuel and time. The feeding system helps reduce greenhouse emissions, and a farm entrepreneur can even offset the annual carbon footprint of a family of three or four by switching to modern feeding technology.

Research to support the investment decision

The Pellon Group invests in the continuous development of feeding technologies. According to a recent emission calculation study, the company’s solutions produce concrete climate benefits and savings. The starting point of the study carried out in March 2024 was a comparison of greenhouse emissions by a tractor-driven mixed-feed carrier versus the automatic Feedline system.

“We knew that an investment of this kind would bring savings. The efficiency of a combustion engine is significantly lower than that of an electric engine. The result of the study confirmed our understanding and provided valuable information in the form of numbers,” says Pellon Group CEO Juhani Torkko.

“Responsible and profitable operations are a big priority at farms and in the food industry today. Modern feeding technology plays an important role in efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Cost efficiency increases and emissions decrease. In addition, valuable working time is reserved for other tasks,” Torkko adds.

Two Finnish farms typical of the company’s customer size category were included in the emission calculation. The study was carried out by Envitecpolis Oy, a company specializing in biogas, energy and material efficiency. The company has a proven record in sustainability calculations in the agricultural and food industry.

“The farms have kept records for several years, so the data collection for the study was a breeze,” says Pellon Group Sales Director Magnus Rex.

Significantly smaller carbon footprint with the new feeding system

The results are encouraging. By switching to an automatic feeding system, it is possible to offset the annual carbon dioxide emissions of a family of 3.5–4.5 persons.

Two Finnish farms, a dairy farm and a meat production farm, were included in the sample of the study. There were a total of 250 animals on the dairy farm, of which 120 were milking cows. The annual milk production was 1.23 million litres. In feed carrier feeding, three different mixes were made for the farm’s animal groups. There were a total of 300 animals on the cattle farm; 150 bulls and 150 heifers. The number of calves was 295. The annual slaughter was 105,500 kilogrammes. Two different feed mixes were made.

The fuel and electricity consumption of a farm using a tractor-driven mixed feed carrier was compared with one using an automatic belt feeding system. The carrier’s fuel consumption was set at 20 litres per hour and the operating time at 2.5 hours per day at the dairy farm and at 2 hours per day at the cattle farm. The monitoring data for the electricity consumption of the filling table was obtained from a farm that used Pellon’s Feedline with two filling tables. The monitoring data was calculated for each animal unit so that it could be used in the calculation of sample farms.

After switching to the automatic feeding system, the fuel consumption at the dairy farm decreased by almost 47%. Correspondingly, electricity consumption increased by 18.5%. The reduction of the farm’s total emissions corresponds to the total annual carbon dioxide emissions of 4.5 average Finns.

Fuel consumption at the cattle farm decreased by 58.4%. Correspondingly, electricity consumption increased by 71.8%. The reduction in total emissions at the cattle farm corresponds to the annual carbon dioxide emissions of about 3.5 average Finns.

“With the study, we can show both producers and the food industry that feeding with modern technology produces clear results in terms of sustainable development,” Rex explains.

The origin of the electricity used is important in reducing emissions, and this is especially the case at cattle farms, where the share of electricity in total emissions is higher. The study’s calculations emphasize the higher emissions of fossil fuels compared to electricity production.

Responsibility and profitability go hand in hand

Sustainable development, efficient use of working hours, increased productivity and animal well-being are at the core of Pellon Group’s operations.

“In addition to reducing fuel costs and emissions, automatic feeding enables more frequent feeding intervals and consistent feed quality at each feeding. In this way, the animals’ well-being, steady growth and milk production are guaranteed,” says Torkko.

The technology also saves on space and thus enables lower construction costs and carbon emissions from the use of concrete.

“A traditional tractor-drawn mash carrier requires a space up to five metres wide. In contrast, a feeding table two metres wide is sufficient for automatic feeding,” Rex points out.

Pellon Group’s topical study has also been well received internationally.

“Doing meaningful work as a producer of an investment commodity that meets the challenges of the future as a safeguard of sustainable food production is particularly fulfilling,” concludes Torkko.

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Source of study: Envitecpolis Oy, Emission Reduction Calculation Pellon Group 3/2024