New grant funding for computerised calf feeders

There’s a further opportunity during 2019 for calf rearers to seek government financial support to improve the efficiency of their youngstock rearing operation
There’s a further opportunity during 2019 for calf rearers to seek government financial support to improve the efficiency of their youngstock rearing operation

New grant funding is available for farmers to buy computerised calf feeders to improve the efficiency of their youngstock rearing operation.

Following the £15 million made available last spring, the government has earmarked an additional £30 million to help farmers purchase agri-tech equipment that will make their businesses more productive and environmentally efficient.

Animal nutritionist specialists Volac says more than 100 UK farmers have already purchased new computerised calf milk feeding machines from the company throughout 2018.

“When the government launched their first round of CPSGS funding in February 2018 we experienced a surge of interest in our Förster Technik and Urban computerised calf milk feeding machines,” said Stacey Best, Business Manager at Volac.

“Now there’s a further opportunity during 2019 for calf rearers to seek government financial support to improve the efficiency of their youngstock rearing operation.”

Farmers that have made the move to computerised feeding report a host of benefits.

Computerised calf feeders take the variables out of the young calf rearing process, which Volac says leads to better calf health and growth.

Ms Best said: “What’s more, milk feeding curves can be tailored to individual farms to hit target growth rates and whilst computerised feeding is not a substitute for good management practices, the assisted cleaning facility will reduce labour hours.

“These machines also allow farmers to spend more productive time with their calves, rather than manually moving milk around in buckets.”

The application window for the additional CPSGS funding will open early in 2019.