Cost / Benefit Analysis

Cost / Benefit Analysis: Automatic milk feeder

By June 7, 2024August 28th, 2024No Comments

Sm@RT Platform EU Funding

Tool / Technology: Automatic milk feeder for kids (GEA Farm Technology)

Analysis prepared by (country): Estonia

Production type the tool/technology is relevant for: Dairy  / Meat / Both

Description of the “benchmark” farm for which the analysis is performed:

Country: Estonia

Production type:

Mainly outdoors / Housed 0-3 months a year / Housed 4-8 months a year / Mainly indoors

Farm grazing area: 0

Species: Goat

Number of animals: 450-500 goat kids

Breed: Thuringian

Number of staff: 1

Costs

Initial set-up

Capital costs (Large items e.g. a weigh crate, auto-drafter, etc.):

 €1 – €500 /  €501- €1,000 / €1,001-€2,500 / €2,501-€5,000 /  €5,001-€15,000 /  > €15,000

Individual costs (Smaller items e.g. per tag, per sample, per collar):

€1 – €20 /  €21- €50 /  €51-€200 /  €201-€500 /  > €500

Equipment leasing costs (if not purchased):

 Annual /  Monthly /  Weekly /  €1 – €50 /  €51-€200 /  €201-€500 /  > €500

Lifetime of the technology (approximately how long will it last before needing replaced)?

 1 – 4 weeks /  1-6 months /  6 – 12 months /  1-2 years / 2-5 years / > 5 years

Farm infrastructure requirements:

Decrease / Increase /  No change /

Percentage of animals within the flock/herd that use/are equipped/take advantage of the technology?

60%

Running costs

Power source requirements (tick all that apply):

Not required / Mains / Battery / Solar / Other

Subscription fee – Needed? Yes / No

If yes

Per flock / herd: Annual €1 – €50

Per individual animal: Monthly €51 – €200

Per unit:Weekly /€201 – €500 / Over €500

Additional licences or permits required? No / Yes – Annual / Yes – Monthly / Yes – Weekly

If yes, cost:

€1 – €50 / €51 – €200 / €201 – €500 / Over €500

Maintenance cost – included in the subscription? Yes / No / Not applicable

If no, cost per month:

€1 – €50 / €51 – €200 / €201 – €500 / Over €500

Maintenance / replacement parts:

Easy to obtain / Difficult to obtain / Not obtainable / Don’t know

Technical / mechanical support provided on farm, after purchase? Yes / No

Training requirements

Training required to install / use? Yes / No

If yes, time range?

Up to an hour / Half day / Full day / More

Additional technical advice required (e.g. advisor time)? Yes / No

Are there additional costs associated with training and/or technical advice? Yes / No

Benefits

(tick all that apply)

Management

Labour / time saving.

Accuracy of records (health, management, movements etc.).

Management decisions for animal groupings.

Better individual animal management.

Improved medicine use.

Better nutrition / meeting requirements better.

Improved use of feed resource (grazing, concentrates, etc.).

Product quality improvements (e.g. hay, carcass, growth, milk, etc.).

Increased information on production system.

Opportunity for sharing / moving device (more than one location).

Animal

Reduced stress to the animal(s).

Improved welfare of the animals(s).

Additional information on animal behaviour.

Information on water intake / water availability.

Information on food intake / food availability.

Technical

Compatibility with other devices.

Ease of data transfer to other software.

Easy to use once installed.

Other

Reduced stress to farmer / staff.

Environmental benefits (e.g. reduced wastage, improved biodiversity, etc.)

Helps to attract new entrants in to the small ruminant industries.

Another benefit not listed? Please give details:

Consistent quality of milk replacer offered and the means of access. Higher milk intakes of the kids, less scouring, less disease and mortality of the kids. Reduced aggression. Reduced labour costs and time.

Overall summary:

Ease of use? Scale 1 (Complicated) – 10 (Simple)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Value for money (for this type of benchmark farm)?

Yes / No / Maybe

Recommend this tool/technology for use on other types of farm?

Yes / No / Maybe

Additional comments?

Mainly for dairy sheep and goat farms. Meat sheep farms would only be suitable for a large number of animals to achieve profitability.

A milk replacer unit that mixes goat milk powder and water and warms it to a temperature that can be determined and regulated by the farmer.

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