Efficiency and growing production with feeding automation – the Tuomala farm saves on time and working hours by Tuula | Sep 26, 2024 Tuomala farm Etusivu|Efficiency and growing production with feeding automation – the Tuomala farm saves on time and working hours Efficiency and growing production with feeding automation – the Tuomala farm saves on time and working hours 26.9.2024 Samu and Minna Vildén have owned the Tuomala dairy farm, located in the village of Luhtikylä in the western part of Finland’s lake district, since 2010. The farm presently hosts a total of about two hundred cattle, including more than a hundred dairy cows and calves. The average milk production is about 14,100 kg annually. The farm has been using Pellon Group Oy’s automatic feeding system since 2015. Expanded over the years, the systems have brought significant savings in terms of workload and working time, among others. “Pellon’s feeding system has significantly improved the efficiency of our farm. “Automation enables consistent and precisely controlled feeding, which is reflected in the well-being of the animals and thus, of course, in productivity,” says Samu Vildén. Automation saves time and reduces workload The Vildéns decided to invest in Pellon Group Oy’s feeding system in connection with the farm’s expansion in 2015. In the past, their farm had relied on a traditional feed distribution method where a tractor drove the feed to the feeding table and it was then distributed to the animals manually. The method consumed a lot of time and required plenty of physical work. “Feeding used to take several hours a day, but now it almost takes care of itself. The feeding dispenser gets the cattle precisely the feed they need so we can focus on other work at the farm,” Samu explains. Today, the operation of the farm is highly automated. In addition to the 70-metre belt feeding system installed in the dairy cattle shed in 2015, a similar system was introduced in the young cattle shed a few years back. The farm also has a fixed, 16 m3, twin-screw mash mixer that mixes feed components precisely in the right proportions, and roughage is added from the loading table. Calves are watered with an automatic waterer, and milking is done with the help of milking robots. Animal well-being, a top priority At the Tuomala farm, an automatic feeding system ensures that the animals receive consistent quality food several times a day. “The well-being of animals has always been our number one priority. When animals receive consistent feed on a regular basis, they feel better and produce more milk. This was an important reason for us to invest in feeding automation,” Samu says. “With the feeding system, it is easy to distribute exactly the right amount of nutrients to the animals and in the right proportions, and there is no waste when feed is distributed several times a day,” he adds. Smooth cooperation with Pellon Pellon Group Oy was selected as the feeding system supplier for several reasons. The farm owners already knew the company and its proven record of providing quality supplies and equipment. In addition, the fact that the company is Finnish with a reliable warranty and maintenance service was a significant factor. “Pellon Group specialists are always ready to help. When we started thinking about a feeding system for our cowshed, they were involved in the planning, and their support has covered us every step of the way,” says Samu. The devices work flawlessly when they are regularly serviced and checked. The proprietor of the farm maintains the equipment himself, so he knows plenty about their reliability and the necessary maintenance. Through his experience, he has also been able to provide valuable contributions to the product development of the system. “The users’ experiences are valued, and direct observations from the farm have been important in developing the products,” raves Samu. An investment with concrete benefits Pellon’s feeding systems have delivered concrete results for the Tuomala farm. Production efficiency and cost savings have improved significantly. “The investment will pay for itself as an increase in milk production and a reduction in working hours. This has been one of our best decisions in improving the farm,” Samu summarises. The ease brought about by the automation is a great advantage, and Samu Vildén encourages farms to learn more about Pellon’s products and invest in feeding automation. “The system has made working easier and more efficient,” he concludes. An environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution The Tuomala farm uses solar panels for electricity production, which reduces the farm’s carbon footprint and brings significant cost savings. “With the help of solar energy, we are covering a large part of the farm’s energy needs in an environmentally friendly way. This way, the electricity used for the automatic feeding system also comes from a clean source,” Samu explains. “The investment will pay for itself as an increase in milk production and a reduction in working hours.” Recent study supports environmental goals According to a recent emission calculation study commissioned by Pellon Group, an automatic feeding system can offset the annual carbon dioxide emissions of a family of up to 3.5–4.5 persons if the use of a traditional, tractor-operated mixed-feed carrier is discontinued. The origin of the electricity used is also important in reducing emissions. “The results are encouraging. This is a significant step towards more sustainable agriculture and more environmentally friendly operations,” says Pellon Group Oy CEO Juhani Torkko. Envitecpolis Oy, a company specializing in biogas, energy and material efficiency, conducted the study on the environmental and cost impacts of an automatic feeding system at the request of Pellon Group Oy. . Interested in our solutions? Contact us to find out more about all an automated feeding system has to offer. Sales contact information See our other customer stories at Calculate the investment payback period Source of study: Envitecpolis Oy, emissions study 3/2024 Text and photo Pellon
