The milk feed for each calf is freshly mixed by the CalfExpert. Any residual milk is kept warm, but is flushed out of the system after a long break. This process ensures good hygiene. Competitor calf feeders use a bulk milk system. The disadvantage of that concept is, when warm milk is stored it goes off e.g. at 40°C, the germ count doubles every 20 minutes.

Calf feeders that are designed around a central milk pool system are disadvantaged when it comes to modern feeding programs. Calves at different ages and stages of rearing may require different concentrations of Queen of Calves (QoC) or Calf Milk Replacer (CMR). For example a QoC program requires calves to have 50g of Starter from day 2-18 then 200g of Finisher from day 19 to weaning. Individual animal feeding of this program can only be achieved if each feed is prepared individually; the CalfExpert does this effortlessly.

The mixing process and calf changeover for the new CalfExpert has been designed to be faster to optimise utilization with the HygieneStations. Faster mixing has ensured that the milk is available at the HygieneStation after only three seconds. After a mix, the system immediately changes to the second stall to feed the next calf. Parameters can be set within the CalfExpert menu to ensure that young or sick calves can be given preferential treatment. The tried and tested Flexitime program guarantees that calves feeding times are spread throughout the day to ensure that they don't congregate around the stalls. This reduces the waiting times for machines servicing a high number of stock and ensures the calves have a positive feeding experience.

The new optional QuadroFlex system provides the opportunity to feed four calves at the same time. The feeding quantity for each calf is precisely measured at each stall by maintenance-free sensors. Precedence is given when two calves with different feed requirements attempt to drink from a PowerMixer, and the sister stall is switched off. However, two calves can continue to feed from the second PowerMixer. The ability to feed four calves simultaneously increases the feeding capacity of the CalfExpert by 20-30% compared to its predecessor, the H&L100.

As the CalfExpert does not restrict feeding to certain times of the day, calves can come and drink at any time. The calves will no longer see you as a feed provider and will therefore remain calm when you enter the calf shed. Younger and weaker calves have all the time they need to drink their full ration without being required to compete. The CalfExpert works with an intelligent credit logic which allocates drinking credit for calves at different times which ensures fewer calves will crowd around the stalls. The HygieneStation is equipped with an anti-pirate valve to ensure that stronger calves do not ‘steal' milk. The CalfExpert provides a uniform, relaxed group of calves.

The CalfExpert is highly programmable to ensure calves have a gentle transition from a milk diet to forage feed. When it is time to start weaning calves off the milk portion of their diet, the CalfExpert can reduce the allocated quantity in small steps of 200ml per day, thereby stimulating the development of the forestomach system. With the CalfExpert, every calf is weaned slowly off milk consumption in terms of both volume and concentration.

The CalfExpert provides the possibility to implement eight different feeding programs. Within these eight feeding programs, there is great flexibility when designing feeding curves. Each feeding curve allows for up to 16 turning points, giving you the opportunity to implement your feeding concept down to the finer details. The CalfExpert also provides proven pre-set feeding programs.

Young or weak calves may take a little longer to drink their allocated feed. To prevent the separation of the powder, the PowerMixer will slowly continue to stir the ration. When the weather is colder, the heater in the PowerMixer always ensures the mix is kept at a constant temperature, no matter how long the calf takes.

The CalfExpert provides the opportunity to include small doses of additives with each freshly mixed feed. Medicines and electrolytes can be added to the feed of sick calves or where it is required during a specific dietic program. The CalfExpert is supplied with one liquid additive doser, with the option to add a second liquid additive doser, and up to two powder additive dosers. As with the milk-feeding programs, you have the possibility to implement different feeding curves for these additives.

When used with an additional hopper, the Calf Expert provides the perfect system for rearing your calves on a Queen of Calves program. The flexibility of feeding programs means you can use both Starter and Finisher powders simultaneously with the whole milk system. The Queen of Calves program and CalfExpert are both industry leaders and when used together give your calves the very best opportunity to achieve optimum health and reach liveweight targets.

Whole milk is ideal for calves to digest and generally calves fed on whole milk will have fewer health issues than calves fed on powdered milk. With the CalfExpert Whole Milk Program you can set different whole milk proportions with CMR. will the CalfExpert then offer powdered milk to make up the shortfall? An abrupt changeover of milk type can cause stress with your calves which then leads to digestion problems. EvenMilk intelligent whole milk control knows how much whole milk is available and how much needs to be fed. It makes sure that the whole milk and CMR are mixed in balanced proportions, even if the milk quantity fluctuates throughout the day.

With the new HygieneStation, the teat is cleaned after every visit with adequate pressure of fresh water spray. Every calf also produces saliva while drinking. With the new HygieneStation, this saliva is collected in the mucus bowl and washed away with the teat cleaning water after every feeding process. This means the floor area within the HygieneStation remains clean and dry. During longer drinking breaks, the CalfExpert's HygieneStation rinses the entire milk line from the base unit through to the teat. In addition, the complete milk system is cleaned several times every day. This effective and consistent cleaning reduces calves exposure to bacteria and reduces the time and effort required for manual cleaning.

Experience has taught us that calves orientate better within the HygieneStation when the teat is illuminated so the teat is illuminated by an LED light. As a result, milk consumption at night is increased and the feeding processes are distributed more evenly over a 24-hour period.

To further optimise cleaning, the CalfExpert offers the possibility to use both alkaline and acid cleaning agents. The cleaning agents may be used alternatively for each cleaning cycle or combined in one cleaning process i.e. alkaline>rinse>acid>rinse. The cleaning agent pumps are situated on the outside rear of the machine, therefore giving the possibility to draw directly from the containers. This is both safe and convenient. The CalfExpert will generate automatic messages when the containers are near empty.

Many areas of New Zealand are prone to freezing temperatures or frosts. The CalfExpert is equipped with an anti-freeze program which activates automatically when there is a risk of a frost. Sensors at the CalfExpert mixing chamber and at every HygieneStation measure the ambient temperature and will adapt the mixing temperature and intensity of the anti-freeze program accordingly.

We recommend that you have your CalfExpert serviced by a qualified technician at least once a year. This will provide you with the peace of mind that your CalfExpert is ready to go for the upcoming calving season. Regular testing of the technology within the CalfExpert is easy. You can test all the components quickly and easily within the maintenance menu. The CalfExpert tells you exactly what to do to carry out calibrations.

The completely new software offers maximum clarity and simple operation of the CalfExpert. All calf data including individual feeding curves, alarm lists, and technical parameters can be opened on the 18cm display. Wi-Fi connectivity means you can access individual calf data on mobile devices including push messages when there has been a fault with the machine.

With four HygieneStations your CalfExpert is capable of feeding up to 150 calves (under certain conditions). If your current requirement is lower, say two HygieneStations the intelligent modular design of the CalfExpert system allows for future upgrades at any time, with all options being available. This means you only need to purchase what you require now, knowing that if circumstances change, you can upgrade and make use of all possibilities at a later stage.

As soon as a calf lifts the teat, a small amount of milk flows into its mouth stimulating the calf's initial drinking impulse. Manual teaching of calves within the HygieneStation is limited to exceptional cases. Should manual training still be required, milk can be pumped to the teat by pressing the key on top of the HygieneStation.

Many HygieneStations are installed directly into the calf pens. The HygieneStation can be tilted forward at a 90° angle so that manure can be removed and the whole area can be easily cleaned with the use of a hose.

The CalfExpert records the daily growth of calves using the Forefoot WeighScale. The information is clearly presented in graphs on the 18cm display. Tracking individual weight development provides the opportunity to wean your calves by weight. The CalfExpert can be programmed to automatically begin the weaning process based on their individual weight. This supports the development into a ruminant and saves you unnecessary calf rearing costs.

Not only will the WeighScales provide you with the daily weight gain of your calves, it will also inform you when your calves weight has declined. The information is used on separate alarm lists and can help identify sick calves at an early stage. This provides the opportunity to treat calves before their illness reaches a serious stage.

When it's time for weaning and decisions need to be made about which replacements to carry through to the herd, the CalfExpert will provide you with valuable information of each individual calf. The information presented on the CalfExpert will support the overall improvement of your future herd by highlighting the calves that have developed poorly or experienced poor growth periods.