As part of the DLG innovation scheme ‘EuroTier 2021 Innovation award’, Futuro Farming’s Calf Monitoring System was recognised for its special achievements in higher animal welfare standards
The award-winning system developed by Futuro Farming enables effective health monitoring of each calf in the herd through continuous calf monitoring and quick feedback to the farmer. The official award ceremony will take place during the ‘EuroTier digital/EnergyDecentral digital’ events on 10 February 2021.
The Animal Welfare Award, which was launched at the last EuroTier exhibition in 2018, is jointly presented by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) together with the German Association of Veterinary Practitioners (bpt - Bundesverband Praktizierender Tierärzte). In accordance with the evaluation criteria of the Animal Welfare Award, a product awarded a EuroTier gold or silver medal and which additionally meets the requirements for a higher animal welfare standard is recognised in this category also.
Innovations in the areas of animal welfare and animal health are determining factors for this award recognition. Products that promote the natural animal behaviour typical for the species, including poultry, dairy, cattle and pigs, and which positively support the health of the animals are thus particularly highlighted.
“Technological innovations often advance animal health and therefore animal welfare faster than new regulatory frameworks. With the Animal Welfare Award, we are providing targeted incentives for the industry to develop products that are appropriate for animal welfare,” said Dr Siegfried Moder, president of the German Association of Practising Veterinarians (bpt).
“A future-oriented agriculture needs to encourage innovation. The innovation award scheme at EuroTier offers the appropriate platform for this. The winner of the Animal Welfare Award 2021 is convincing proof of the trend-setting importance of international animal husbandry technology,” said DLG President Hubertus Paetow, underlining the importance of technical innovation for the livestock industry of the future.
Animal Welfare Award: Portrait of the winner
The Animal Welfare Award 2021 is presented to the ‘Calf Monitoring System’ developed by Futuro Farming, a company based in Regensburg, Germany. The new system enables effective health monitoring of each calf in the herd through continuous calf monitoring and rapid feedback to the farmer.
The Calf Monitoring System, which has been developed to offer early detection of diseases in calves, uses a precise, energy-saving and above all non-invasive infrared sensor. Recognising the calf’s behavioural pattern, the sensor collects data that is then evaluated in real time by an AI algorithm, which generates a prognosis for potential diseases. This information is made available to the farmer directly via an app and online platform.
Continuous monitoring of the calf and quick feedback to the farmer ensure that developing diseases can be detected earlier and therefore treated earlier. By treating a calf more quickly, especially in the first few days of its life, the monitoring system may directly contribute to the health of the calf and its longevity, thus significantly improving animal welfare.
Award ceremony at the ‘EuroTIer digital/EnergyDecentral digital’ Exhibition
The official presentation of the Animal Welfare Award will take place on 10 February 2021 during the ‘EuroTier digital/EnergyDecentral digital’ events. Next year, EuroTier the world’s leading trade fair for animal production, and EnergyDecentral, the leading international trade fair for innovative energy production, will be held exclusively as a digital version, 9-12 February 2021. An extensive digital technical program on current topics of international livestock farming will be inviting animal husbandry professionals to the digital trade fair platform over four days to exchange ideas with experts from all over the world, get to know the latest offers from exhibitors and network with exhibitors and visitors in a targeted manner.
