New dairy cow barn with a fully automated barn climate control system

Task

The Untersulzberghof farm in Radstadt, Austria, has been owned by the Haym family for over 200 years. Situated at an altitude of 850 metres, this dairy farm with its own calf-rearing facilities focuses on dairy farming and the breeding of Pinzgauer cattle. In summer, the cows and their calves are on the farm’s own alpine pasture in Untertauern, where they are milked. To ensure optimal conditions for the approximately 60 dairy cows during the winter months as well, the Haym family decided to build a state-of-the-art free-stall barn. With a focus on species-appropriate husbandry and, in particular, animal welfare, farmer Andreas Haym’s primary concern was to create a healthy barn environment. A key requirement was that the management and control of the barn environment should remain manageable for the farmer, cause no additional effort and function smoothly even in his absence. 

Solution

Lubratec Smart barn climate control system. Numerous Lubratec products were integrated into the barn: in addition to roll-up vents and Stabitor doors, energy-efficient LED lights, axial fans, the Lubratec SmartBox, the Lubratec SmartPad and a weather station were also installed. Throughout the entire planning and construction phase, HUESKER’s barn climate experts played a key role in the project’s implementation, from the initial consultation right through to the final installation. Constant air exchange is essential for an optimal barn climate. Ideally, the entire volume of air in the barn should be completely replaced six times within an hour. In the new barn in Radstadt, this is achieved via side openings which, with the help of Lubratec roll-up vents, enable natural ventilation. The intelligent weather and wind protection screens, also known as curtains, have become indispensable in modern livestock farming and contribute significantly to improving the barn climate and animal health. The air exchange is enhanced by axial fans mounted on the sides, which blow additional air into the barn when required. In addition to optimised ventilation, the roll-up ventilation systems also ensure maximum daylight utilisation. High-performance yet energy-efficient LED lights also allow for the control of activity periods, promote vitamin D production in the animals and boost their vitality. The interconnected Lubratec products are controlled fully automatically via the compact and powerful SmartBox. In addition to key barn climate data (including carbon dioxide concentration, ammonia levels, temperature, humidity and light intensity), this also processes real-time weather information from the weather station installed on the north side of the barn. The browser-based Lubratec SmartApp consolidates all measured values and information in one central location. With just a few clicks on their mobile phone or SmartPad, the Haym family can access a complete overview of the current barn climate and all parameters, wherever they are. 

Benefits

Lubratec Smart is the intelligent solution for reliable and stress-free climate control in open-plan barns. The combination of hardware and software ensures an ideal barn climate and animal welfare. The system utilises climate data collected via various sensors to support animal-friendly husbandry and optimise operational processes. Thanks to the smart measurement system and the intelligent networking of Lubratec products for ventilation and lighting, the Haym family can rely on an ideal barn climate at all times. The individual products are controlled centrally and fully automatically as required. A particular benefit for farmer Andreas Haym: greater freedom. Thanks to the fully automatic climate control, he does not need to be constantly on site at the Untersulzberghof to ensure perfect conditions in the barn. He was also impressed by the professional and reliable order processing, as well as the comprehensive service provided by HUESKER before, during and after the installation of the networked Lubratec Smart Barn Climate System.

At a glance:

• Perfect ventilation and lighting thanks to a bespoke system
• Mobile control and intelligent software offer freedom, safety and control
• Adjustment of the barn climate using real-time climate and weather data
• Extremely robust and low-maintenance materials
• Simple and straightforward installation