FOERSTER TECHNIK Calf Feeder COMAPCT Smart User Guide

FOERSTER TECHNIK Calf Feeder COMAPCT Smart

Product Information

The Calf Feeder is a device designed for training and feeding calves. It provides a convenient and efficient way to ensure proper nutrition for young calves in both single hutches and group housing. The feeder allows for colostrum feeding, frequent milk feeding, and independent feed intake training.

Features:

• Colostrum feeding for a good start
• Teat bucket for milk feeding in single housing
• Smooth transition to group housing
• Manual and automatic registration of calves
• Training functionality to encourage independent feeding

Important Notes:

Before using the Calf Feeder, ensure that the calf is healthy, willing to drink, and old enough for the target group. Do not transfer sick or hungry calves to the group. It is recommended to wait at least 14 days in individual housing before moving them to the group.
For detailed information, warnings, and safety instructions, please refer to the operating manual.

Product Usage Instructions

First Steps with Calves at a Calf Feeder

1. Ensure proper colostrum feeding as soon as possible after birth. Feed colostrum in good quality and sufficient quantity.
2. Keep the calf box clean and freshly bedded.
3. Feed the calves in single housing through a teat bucket with frequent milk feeding. Use the same feed as at the calf feeder and maintain hygiene.

Moving to Group

Before transferring the calf to the group, ensure the calf is healthy, willing to drink (strong sucking reflex present), and old enough for the target group. Never transfer sick or hungry calves.

• Feed the calf once again before transferring.
• Register the calf at the feeder.
• Check if independent feed intake exists at the Calf Feeder.
• Transfer the calf to the group housing.

Registration

Register the animals directly at the feeder, even if training will be done later.

Manual Registration

Select manual registration if registering one or a few animals.

Automatic Registration

Select automatic registration for a larger group of calves with identical settings.

Training Young Calves

Attract
Lead the calf into the feeding station using a teat bottle or a gloved finger. Do not push or pull the calf to avoid associating the feeding station with stress.

Training
If the calf does not suck immediately at the teat, press the training button to deliver milk to the teat. The taste of the milk should encourage the calf to suck. Press the button gently and allow the calf to drink as much as possible by itself. Close the station to prevent sudden escape of the calf and make training easier. Avoid actively watching each calf to prevent misconditioning.

Training Finished

The first feeding is finished when the calf has retrieved its allocated amount. You can check this by observing a light flash on the identification or on the HandTerminal of the automatic feeder.

First steps with calves at a calf feeder

This document provides a quick overview of how to train calves on the feeder and 昀椀rst steps

Calves in single hutches

Colostrum

For a good start, colostrum feeding is essential!

Feed the colostrum:

• as fast as possible
• in a good quality
• in suffvient quantity

Housing

Make sure that the calf box is clean and freshly bedded

Manuel feeding

Feed the calves already in single housing via a teat bucket.

• frequent milk feeding
• same feed as at the calf feeder
• Hygiene

Moving to group

Before you transfer, the calf must be: healthy, willing to drink (strong sucking refflex present) and old enough for the target group! NEVER transfer sick or hungry calves! If you are not sure when is the right time for your calves and you don‘t have any experience, it is better to put them into the group after 14 days in individual housing

Register

Register the animals directly at the feeder – even if you may not train the animals until the next morning. If you are lucky, the calves will learn themselves.

Manual

Select manual registration if one or only a few animals are to be registered.

Automatic registration

Select automatic registration if a larger group of calves with identical settings is to be registered at the same time

Training young calves

Attract

• Lead the calf into the feeding station. Use a teat bottle or gloved 昀椀nger to entice it.
• Do not push or pull the calf, otherwise it will connect the feeding station with stress!

Training

• If the calf does not suck immediately at the teat, press the training button. This delivers milk to the teat.The taste of the milk should encourage the calf to suck.
• Press the button with care/feeling. Let the calf drink as much as possible by itself. Close the station. This prevents sudden escape of the calf calf and makes it easier to train the calf. Avoid actively watching each calf to prevent misconditioning.

Training finished
The first feeding is finished when the calf has retrieved its allocated amount.

You can check this as follows:

• a light flashes on the identiffcation
• on the HandTerminal of the automatic feeder

After the training
Mark calves that have already been trained or note the animal number

Repetition

• In the evening, check with your notes whether the calves that you have trained in the morning have drunk enough.
• If this is not the case, repeat the „ training“ part.
• You will find the feeding quantities for each calf on the Hand Terminal of the machine

Animal control

At least twice a day:

• Calf monitoring at the feeder or via CalfCloud (Mark conspicuous calves !)
• Visual calf monitoring in the barn (especially conspicuous calves of the feeder)

Note : Information on animal control can be found in QSG 1.5
This checklist refers to the basic equipment of the Calf feeder. Not all available functions can be shown. For detailed information and valid warnings and safety instructions, please refer to the operating manual. (Status 22/11)

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