Foot bath manufacturer Hoofcount has partnered with Siemens to use technology to improve the health and welfare of dairy cows.

Through cooperation, Hoofcount will use Siemens' data capture and control technology to help farmers make informed decisions to better solve the main problem of the dairy herd-lameness.

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

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 the 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 behavior 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 cause hundreds of thousands of pounds in losses to 100 dairy herds 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 regular foot washing of cows can help reduce and prevent hoof disease and lameness.

Diary cow using Hoofcount foot bath. Image courtesy of Hoofcount

Anthony Marsh, dairy engineer and founder of Hoofcount, said: “When we first launched foot baths in the UK in 2012, we were already in the lead because they were very new. However, with the rapid advancement of technology, we have reached the point where we need to double down. Work hard and become a revolutionary again. Moreover, in order to stay ahead, we need input and expertise from Siemens.

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

Relying on 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 growing 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 for use with robotic systems, such as the Excel foot bath, which is suitable for farms with a large number of cows.

Hoofcount’s footbath production more than doubles every year, doubling the company and its business.

Its footbath cycle has been proven to maintain the health of cattle, improve the feet of the herd, reduce the loss of milk production and increase fertility. Therefore, data from its customers show that using foot baths can reduce lameness and save up to 8,000 pounds per 100 cows per year.

Moreover, as a growing family business, Hoofcount prides itself on supporting farmers all over the world. As a result, Hoofcount foot baths have now been shipped to more than 16 countries around the world, including Canada, Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

Siemens Digital Industries Business Development Manager Lee Fletcher said: "Building closer ties with agriculture and introducing the latest technologies that can change the welfare of farm animals-this is a key factor in operating a healthy farm-makes Siemens proud. 

"Through the close cooperation between Hoofcount and Siemens, its design concepts are supported by industry knowledge, such as the use of open standards. The technology used by Hoofcount is scalable and can be connected to IoT devices when needed. The possibilities are endless. Smart control will enable farmers to monitor and control foot baths through apps, no matter where they are located."

Anthony Marsh added: “Obviously, our partnership with Siemens allows us to move forward quickly and sustainably, and expand technology as needed while ensuring that we benefit from Siemens’ industrial expertise.

"Hoofcount is undoubtedly in a good position to continue to maintain its leading position in the market, helping cattle farmers develop their businesses, while ensuring the health of farm animals is a top priority."