The Topolik farm is the biggest robotized dairy cow farm in Europe with the total capacity of 500 head of cattle. It is the first and only farm of the kind in Croatia, and there are no farms in Europe with as many as 6 robots as it is the case on this Belje farm in Topolik. Sixty million kuna was invested in the construction and equipment of the farm.
The farm Topolik covers an area of 4.23 ha and consists of two buildings: the production stable and the dry cows stable. The production stable is a unique building in Croatia, 160 m long and 16 m high, without any partition walls or pillars. The total area of the stable is 6,560 m2 and the stable has 414 beds. The cow movement is regulated by the system of one-way and so called ”smart doors” and feeding is computerized with the automatic food concentrate dosing according to individual needs of each cow. Apart from that, the stable is equipped with the automatic control of microclimate conditions.
Robotized milking (VMS) is carried out with 6 fully automatized robots which milk each cow three times within 24 hours. Specific characteristic of robotized milking is the fact that the position of the udder with each cow is detected by a laser which is followed by the robot placing the milking cup. The robot recognizes the milk quality and milk of altered parameters is separated into special tanks.
The cattle herd in Topolik is of a superior genetics and high health status of the Holstein breed, imported from Sweden. The cows weigh on average 580-600 kg and are 26 months old. The milk production rates are excellent. The average milk production is 10,600 l of milk a year. For further cattle reproduction on the Topolik farm, Belje is going to use 10 best bulls in the world.
Apart from the production stable there is also a dry cow stable which covers the area of 600m2. This stable is intended for cows in preparation for calving. The beds in the stable are made according to the leaning board system which enables the sliding of manure into a dirt corridor which is cleaned by the automatic cleaner.
The Topolik farm is equipped with the closed rainfall collection system with a settling tank and a pre-pump station. The water recycling plant with a freestanding water tower of 100m3 capacity supplies for the farm with water. The manure removal system is mechanized and pre-programmed and the size of the manure storage container facilitates depositing manure for the period of 9 months.
Apart from the stable, the area around the farm is also impressive. Vertical and horizontal silos, as well as tunnels for hay and straw are located here. The food concentrate which is dosed by a computer in the robot and feeder is stored in the vertical silos, whereas six horizontal silos, each with the capacity of 1,500 m3 store voluminous cattle feed.
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