Siemens is working with Hoofcount, a manufacturer of foot bath products, to use technology to improve the health and welfare of dairy cows.

This cooperation will use Siemens' data acquisition and control technology to help farmers make wise decisions to better solve the main problem of the dairy herd-lameness.

Hoofcount, located in Preston, is using Siemens' expertise to combine the real world with the digital world using LOGO (a smart logic module suitable for small and medium-sized automation projects in industrial environments).

LOGO manages the control of the key mechanisms of Hoofcount's footbaths, such as chemistry and water pumps, and animal feed control.

The controller allows Hoofcount to track cows passing by the footbath and provide valuable data about the herd, which can then be displayed on the HMI screen for visualization. These baths can be controlled remotely and can transmit data to the cloud for analysis.

Limp is caused by bacteria on the hoof, which can lead to restricted movement, pain, and behavioral changes.

These effects, including animal suffering, increased carbon dioxide footprint, decreased milk production, decreased fertility, increased treatment, increased trimming costs, and unnecessary labor, are estimated to cost 100 dairy herds thousands of pounds each year. In the entire UK dairy industry, the financial impact of lameness is estimated to far exceed £100 million.

These effects are the main focus of the entire food and beverage industry supply chain. But washing the feet of cows regularly can help reduce and prevent hoof disease and lameness.

Anthony Marsh, a dairy engineer and founder of Hoofcount, said: “When we first launched foot baths in the UK in 2012, we were already in a leading position because they were very new. However, with the rapid advancement of technology, we have reached the point where we need to work harder. And once again become the point of revolution. Moreover, in order to maintain a leading position, we need input and expertise from Siemens.

"Partnering with Siemens has given us the impetus to produce the technologically advanced Hoofcount. In short, we have turned our footbath into a groundbreaking device that will ultimately help cattle farmers make data-driven decisions."

With its humble beginnings as a small family business in rural Lancashire and a deep understanding of the needs of farmers and their animals, Hoofcount has developed an automatic footbath series suitable for every farm.

Each Hoofcount foot bath is designed, folded and manufactured in its evolving workshop in Lancashire, and the company produces approximately 300 foot baths each year.

The foot bath is optimized to reduce the use of water and chemicals, thereby reducing overall operating costs. They are easy to maintain and have a built-in cleaning system. After passing a set number of cows, it takes less than three minutes to use two chemical pumps.

Hoofcount's simple smart controller allows users to monitor and change settings from mobile devices, as well as receive important notifications.

Standard foot baths are ideal for herds of up to 200 cows. They are also specifically designed to be used with robotic systems, such as the Excel foot bath, which is suitable for farms with a large number of cows.

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