Bath & West Dairy Show to showcase agricultural innovation

British agriculture is facing the effects of climate change, market volatility, and factors affecting food security.

The show's 300-plus trade stands and seminar sessions will explain topics including cow monitoring, slurry inoculant, electric utility vehicles, and bale probes.

The show will take place on Wednesday, October 5 at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet and highlight creativity and problem-solving.

Herdvision, a cow health champion and Cream Award winner for innovation, will showcase its groundbreaking body condition and mobility scoring camera technology.

Using 2D and 3D technology, small camera can be used to record cows when they are in a relaxed state, explains head of sales Stuart Adams.

“Cows naturally perceive people as predators; they try to hide ailments, making it difficult to observe earlier stages of disease and pain,” he said.

“Manual observations are subjective. The technology is consistent, objective and repeatable.”

The Worker electric utility vehicle from Electric Wheels, which will be exhibited at the show. Picture: Supplied by Bath & West (Image: Bath & West)

The technology uses unobtrusive cameras that utlise cloud-based artificial intelligence, learning machines, and algorithms to determine cows' body conditions and mobility scores.

Changes in these metrics will be send to farmers through alerts on their smartphone or PC, allowing them to take data-driven action.

It has been estimated that the processor could save £22,169 per year for a 200-herd cow in lameness reduction and associated labour costs.

Other companies demonstrating their methods or products include EnviroSystems, Electric Wheels, and Cornish Mutual and Quanturi.

Electric Wheels will be exhibiting two of their all-terrain electric utility vehicles that have the same capabilities as fossil fuel-powered vehicles without the emissions.

Founder Chris Hurdle said: “Mules and Gators are on most farms. However, we are seeing more farmers showing interest in electric vehicles, as long as they can do the job and provide the same functionality.”

The Nipper and Worker models will be on display, which both provide 45 to 75 miles to the charge - enough for a full working day on almost all farms.

“It will cost the farmer around £1.50 per working day, which is significantly lower than diesel-powered UTVs; they sit somewhere between £20-£30 per day,” said Chris.

“Maintenance costs are also much more controlled; Annual services average £200 to £300 with cheaper spare parts.”