French manufacturer Kuhn has released details of its new self-propelled, autonomous diet feeder capable of feeding 280 cows, after heading to the clamp then loading and mixing up to three cubic metres of ingredients.

The Aura, scheduled for release in 2024- 25, works autonomously using GPS and RTK to move around a farm, collecting and feeding out a total mixed ration (TMR), making use of inbuilt loading and weighing modules that calculate the exact blend of forage material like grass and maize, alongside any concentrates or minerals that may be required.

The three cubic metre mixing tank features twin vertical augers that are said to lower the power requirement, while also featuring extensive use Kuhn’s K-Nox technology to guarantee a service life said to be up six times longer than conventional steel alternatives.

Featuring a 56hp diesel engine can power the Aura for up to a week of continual loading and feeding. Very compact, standing at 2.6m high, 1.9m wide and a little less than 7.0m in length, the unit can move easily around housing barns, feed pads, feed passages and, of course, storage clamps.

A multi-purpose milling head is used to load forage efficiently while weigh sensors calculate the TMR to the nearest kilogram. The machine can also load concentrates or minerals by auger from storage hoppers fitted with receivers to communicate with the Aura’s onboard transmitter.

The time and frequency of feeding can be set at numerous points during a 24-hour period to enable consistent feeding without the need for operator intervention. Additionally, Aura is fitted also with rotating brushes on each side of the machine that push up forage in the feed area and clean up any fallen material at the clamp.

Mixing and chopping speeds can be adjusted to create a homogenous TMR blend, which is then fed out at a speed of 2 km/h via a bi-directional conveyor. Maximum travel speed is up to 7 km/h, with maximum gradients of up to 20%.

A guidance system uses GPS and RTK when operating outdoors, while LIDAR works inside, in conjunction with an onboard odometer. Farms operating Aura will be mapped and connected to Wi-Fi devices to enable connectivity throughout, while in-built sensors help avoid objects and bring the machine to a stop in emergencies.

Following collaboration with the specialist Italian manufacturer Dinamica Generale, Kuhn has increased the ration programming and feed management capabilities across its diet feeder range with the launch of a new intuitive programmable weighing package as standard on all machines.

In addition, the company offers the option of either a secondary display or a remote-control facility, available through pre-loaded apps on a smartphone or tablet.

In addition, for full ration tracking and management, Kuhn also now offers a cloud-based data transfer function that provides a comprehensive package of monitoring and reporting options, controlled from a personal computer and with the potential to interface with other farm management software.

The DG600 terminal is now a standard inclusion on all KUHN Profile and Euromix trailed diet feeders, featuring a monitor with twin screens, the first displaying weights and a second that acts as a virtual keypad that allows ingredient names and quantities to be shown simultaneously. The DG600 has scrollable menus that make choosing and inputting data faster and easier. It has the capacity to store up to 99 mixes, with each having up to 24 ingredients, and up to 48 feed batches at any one time but can be used as a simple weighing display if required.

As the calving season progresses, Palmerston North-based Stallion has introduced a mid-size mobile calf feeder that will be well received by New Zealand calf rearers who are fed up with carrying endless buckets.

Peter Scheres, alongside son in law Aaron Pascoe and his wife Kate, operates Twin Oaks, near Lichfield in the Waikato. The property of 115ha runs 420 cows, delivering around 270,000 kgMS per annum under a System 5 operation.

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