Livestock

TARGAN brings AI-driven system WingScan to the European market. (Image source: TARGAN)

Animal AgTech company TARGAN, Inc. recently secured a new contract with IKO Kompania Drobiarska to install TARGAN's automated feather-sexing system, WingScan 

This collaboration debuted at EuroTier 2024 in Hannover, Germany this year, following which it demonstrated TARGAN's commitment to delivering innovative AI-powered solutions to poultry producing companies across Europe. 

Depending on configuration, the WingScan system offers a throughput of 40,000–160,000 chicks per hour, with up to 98% accuracy. Automated chick sexing enhances efficiency and performance, providing downstream benefits at both the farm and processing levels. By implementing gender-specific rearing strategies, producers can improve flock uniformity, ultimately optimising plant operations.

IKO's CEO, Zbigniew Idziaszek expressed pride in being one of the first companies in Europe to integrate WingScan into their hatchery, while looking forward to the positive impact as they continued to expand their operations. He also highlighted how TARGAN's system perfectly aligned with their goals of boosting efficiency, enhancing quality and improving welfare standards across all stages of production.

Viscon Hatchery Automation, TARGAN’s commercial distribution and service partner for WingScan across select European markets, was instrumental in facilitating the agreement with IKO. The European launch of WingScan reaffirms TARGAN’s commitment to advancing animal protein production globally by delivering scalable, next-generation automation that meets the increasing demands of the poultry industry.

Area Sales Manager, Tomasz Zimnicki mentioned that the collaboration provided a tremendous opportunity to meet the specific needs of the European market. "IKO is well-positioned to fully capitalise on the downstream benefits at every stage of production—from hatchery to farm to processing plant—maintaining a strong competitive edge. We are excited about the continued collaboration between TARGAN and Viscon and are fully prepared to provide the highest quality support and service as more customers adopt the WingScan system,” said Zimnicki. 

For poultry processors seeking to optimise their anatomic leg processing operations, ALPINE offers unparalleled efficiency, consistency and ease of use. (Image source: Marel)

Given the high demand for deboned leg meat, the Anatomic Leg Processor Innovative New Evolution (ALPINE) represents a significant leap forward in anatomic leg processing

By maintaining top-level performance while handling a wide range of weights and reducing labor dependency, ALPINE addresses processors' needs for increased production volumes while also maximising yield and quality. A number of advanced technologies such as the Hip Dislocation Wheel have been used to realise ALPINE's high performance. This unique feature allows for precise control of the hip tilting movement─needed to achieve an anatomical cut─without exerting excessive force or removing the leg from the shackle. It results in improved performance and virtually inexistent leg loss. 

In an attempt to further enhance accuracy and minimise errors, ALPINE incorporates advanced back piece separation and detection technology which prevents incorrectly cut legs. Optionally, processors can integrate a special module to remove groin skin automatically, meeting specific market demands while saving considerable manual trimming labour.

Easy operation

ALPINE is equipped with a user-friendly HMI touchscreen, making it easy to enter a recipe that matches the specific characteristics of the incoming flock. This automatically engages the proper machine settings to provide the highest possible leg yield. 

The screen also shows performance data, enabling processors to monitor key metrics such as backpiece detection, leg loss, and unprocessed legs. Built-in machine software provides this real-time and historical performance data. Such proactive insights minimise the need for manual intervention and prevent downtime. ALPINE’s data-driven approach enables processors to maintain peak performance with minimal need for maintenance.

Wide weight range with consistent results

Designed to process high-yield anatomic legs across an unprecedented range of bird weights without requiring major adjustments, ALPINE's versatility is valuable for processors handling diverse flock weights. This enables them to optimise operations even in big bird processing markets. 

Regardless of weight fluctuations, the result will always be consistent: a high-yield leg. Compatible with both water-chilled and air-chilled lines, ALPINE easily integrates into existing setups and pairs excellently with Marel's Thigh Fillet System, at a capacity of up to 7,200 products per hour.

Saving labour

Keeping legs within the shackles at all times enables ALPINE to practically eliminate product drops and minimise rework, downtime and labour. Digital operation, automated settings, reduced need for adjustments and precise performance monitoring further highlight its labor-saving advantages. Touchscreen control and the broad weight range further contribute to ALPINE’s efficiency, ease of use and consistently high yield.

The system is designed to maximise efficiency in feed management, allowing producers to reduce costs and optimize resource utilisation. (Image source: Topcon)

Leading precision agriculture designer, manufacturer and distributor, Topcon Agriculture recently announced the launch of its latest feeding system, TMR Flex Pro that enables smooth management of the feeding process

The system also provides real-time insight in key aspects such as dry matter, refusals and pen deliveries. Besides accuracy, other key elements that are critical to this include elements such as time and flexibility. This is particularly important for larger farms. Developed together with farmers, the modular TMR FlexPro helps improve daily workflow on the go and in a practical and convenient way. 

A major advantage of this system inclues its self-explanatory interface which is simple and reduces the learning curve, while also ensuring ease of use for individual operators and feeding teams. Moreover, the system also allows multiple users to seamlessly collaborate during the loading and delivery process, thereby enhancing not only visibility, but also efficiency and productivity. 

“Ingredient tracking functionality enhances inventory control, and the system’s unique refusal recording and substitution feature reduces feed waste, improving sustainability and farmers’ return on investment,” said Topcon Agriculture's senior vice president and segment leader of nutrition and weighing technologies, Wim De Wit. 

The system comprises the Digi-Star FD1 tablet, a data transfer device, and the TAP FEED Pro/Feedlot subscription and is designed to maximise efficiency in feed management, allowing producers to reduce costs and optimise resource utilisation. It offers enhanced data visibility and monitoring capabilities, providing farmers with valuable, data-driven insights for better planning and decision-making. 

“TMR Flex Pro can be connected to existing Digi-Star scale systems or load cells of any kind on any brand feed mixer. It is the best-in-class upgrade solution to achieve a next-level feed management experience on any type or size dairy and feedlot operation,” De Wit said. “The TAP FEED cloud platform allows producers to collaborate with their trusted partners such as feed suppliers, nutritionists, and others who all have an increasing need for real-time data for the benefit of their advancing business models and sustainability agendas.”

Monitoring estrus intensity in cattle helps optimise reproduction and can be done efficiently with visual estrus detection aids. (Image source: ESTROTECT)

Although all estrus cycles are not the same for individual females within a herd, it is one of the most important indicators of whether a cow or heifer will be successfully bred

Animal reproduction professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada, Ronaldo Cerri, PhD is carrying out research work to improve cattle fertility by identifying which cows and heifers are the best candidates to breed using tactics like artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET), with estrus intensity as the deciding factor.

Cattle have typical baseline activity when they aren’t in estrus. When they start to enter estrus, their activity rises as the intensity of the estrus increases. Pinpointing when estrus is about to peak is crucial to a successful pregnancy. 

After analysing extensive data from estrus detection sensors, Cerri and other researchers have pinpointed patterns based on what’s occurring during estrus. Cows exhibiting low estrus intensity tend to have lower concentrations of progesterone during the growth of the ovulatory follicle and fail to ovulate more often than those with high estrus intensity. Similarly, ET recipients that show high estrus intensity have more consistent pregnancy results.

“The patterns are very consistent in many of the studies we do,” said Cerri. “Cows with lower estrus intensity always display less physical activity, but they also have lower pregnancy rates. On the flip side, cows with high estrus intensity display more activity and have higher pregnancy rates.”

Evaluating estrus intensity

Using heat detection tools to evaluate estrus intensity can help to pick and choose which cows are the best candidates to breed at a particular time. While implementing a mass breeding protocol, offers the option to use estrus intensity to direct choices on what type of genetics to use.