© HUESKER
Stable climate control technology for more animal welfare: Lubratec® Smart
Cooperation partners: HUESKER Synthetic GmbH, FarmTool Farmsoftware GmbH
Even cows are sometimes too hot, or they turn up their noses at unpleasant barn smells. Therefore, it is important to collect relevant data in order to create the optimal stable climate. Two companies from Münsterland have developed a sophisticated system that uses digitalisation and intelligent algorithms to reconcile animal welfare with efficiency.
Learn more about the innovation from Münsterland on this page.
HUESKER Synthetic GmbH, Gescher
HUESKER from Gescher has been developing and producing technical textiles for 160 years, which are used as a sustainable alternative construction method to concrete and steel. HUESKER is active in the geosynthetics, agricultural, industrial and composites sectors. Around 500 employees work for the company worldwide, which sells its products in 60 countries. HUESKER produces in Germany, the USA, Brazil and Russia.
FarmTool Farmsoftware GmbH, Gescher
FarmTool develops software solutions for farms with the aim of supporting farmers in the areas of animal health, antibiotic minimisation and sustainable agricultural production. At the company headquarters in Gescher, the FarmTool team programs applications for the keepers of pigs, cows and poultry.
Challenge: An optimal stable climate
In order to keep livestock in an animal-friendly manner, optimal conditions are essential. This includes creating an optimal stable climate by using ventilation and climate control equipment to remove gases, water vapour and heat. Because animals can also be too hot. An adult cow, for example, feels particularly comfortable at a temperature between 0 and 15 degrees Celsius. When we humans are pleasantly warm, the cows have long been too hot. It is therefore not always easy for the farmer to optimally control and monitor the barn air-conditioning system. This is exactly where the Lubratec Smart system comes in, which HUESKER has developed together with FarmTool.
Solution approach: A smart system
© HUESKER
Lubratec Smart is a system that records important stable climate data such as light, CO₂ concentration, ammonia concentration, humidity, temperature and THI value (the temperature-humidity index measures heat stress). For this purpose, it uses the so-called SmartBox: an intelligent measuring device that forms the core component of the networked stable climate system. The compact and extremely powerful box permanently measures important climate data in relevant stable areas and sends it to the Lubratec SmartApp. The easy-to-use app processes the collected data and visualises the stable climate.
In addition, the farmer receives individual recommendations for action to optimise the stable climate. In the Connect performance level, the barn climate is controlled fully automatically by intelligent algorithms. Via the Lubratec SmartPad as the central control unit for the entire system, the user can also control and manage all ventilation and lighting products that are integrated into the stable climate system. In addition to the SmartPad, the system can also be operated via the SmartApp.
Success: animal welfare and efficiency combined
© HUESKER
Lubratec helps farmers to reconcile animal welfare with efficient barn management. Lighting, ventilation and management are optimally coordinated. The system thus creates a healthy stable climate, increases animal health and supports the animals' natural behaviour. Lubratec Smart is already being successfully operated in reference farms in Münsterland. There are currently 27 reference farms across Germany, so the product, which was launched in mid-January 2021, is already proving very popular.
HUESKER is also planning to further develop the system extensively. In the future, it should be possible to network all lighting and climate control components in the barn, to control and regulate them automatically using artificial intelligence and to measure success with the help of key figures.
As a regional joint initiative, Enabling Networks Münsterland supports companies and universities in the Münsterland region in developing innovations, implementing them and finding the right partners for the project. In order to show how innovative and at the same time cooperative Münsterland already is, the project also went in search of innovative cooperation projects from the region. The results are presented on this page. The Enabling Networks Münsterland project is funded by the European Union and the NRW Ministry of Economics as part of the ERDF call "Regio.NRW".
