Poultry/Pig silo remote mentoring

[PeterMason]

Hi all

I manage a 840,000 broiler site in West Norfolk and am looking for reccomendations for reliable remote monitoring sensors for our feed silos- we have 24, 28 tonne silos on site. I have been looking into a cost effective solution so we can live montior feed in each silo for more precise management, looking likely to be a laser sensor hanging from the top of each bin most likely. Happy to take reccomendations of course.

Thank you

Peter

 

[Matt]

Collinsons do a weigh cell system don't they?

 

[PeterMason]

yes, but not economical on with the amount of silos we have unfortunately

 

[Matt]

yes, but not economical on with the amount of silos we have unfortunately

Are you wanting a automatic notification system or would using cctv cameras so you can remotely 'look' at the bins before possible?
Only other thing I can think of is if it is possible to have a pressure switch or sensor like they use to control the augers which links to something to allow people to know when it is at a certain level.

 

[PeterMason]

Hi Matt- not quite. We already have weigh cells which load out 20kg a time into feed augers, but these can be unrelaible at the best of times. Each bin is indivudally alarmed as and when they are emptied so they can be switched over.

Looking at whats on the market, we think a laser sensor which sits inside at the top of the bin measuring remainign levels would be best, which can also be remotely monitored- not many on the market and difficult to find people who have experience using them! This is mainly live monitor our feed so we can make orders more efficeiently, more fo a challenge near the end of the flock when the chickens are eating alot!

 

[Nukemall]

Would have thought that dust would cover the laser lens very quickly, leading to accuracy and or operational problems.
I have no experience of them though.

 

[Chickcatcher]

@PeterMason
Morning Peter,
I have been sort of envious for years that you having so many "Birds" and "bins" it would be a doddle ordering feed. I was thinking all you had too do was keep ordering and as birds got toward the end just take a shed out of the system and fiddle a bit in from a delivery from another bin. I had always thought all you had to worry about then was the last couple of sheds as they clear.
We only have 5 bins for 4 sheds (3*12) on one pair (1*28 and 1*12) on the other pair we then have another Isolated bin that takes 12 tons which we can load out into our own blower trailer so long as there is some in it. or at the end it takes the left over feed from the batch. It can then go into blower and held for next batch. Its so easy when you only have 130K. and Daughter now ordering.

 

[Chickcatcher]

@PeterMason
Thinking a bit more for end of batch stock control you could surely get away with just load cells on one bin per pair of sheds.

 

[PeterMason]

@PeterMason
Morning Peter,
I have been sort of envious for years that you having so many "Birds" and "bins" it would be a doddle ordering feed. I was thinking all you had too do was keep ordering and as birds got toward the end just take a shed out of the system and fiddle a bit in from a delivery from another bin. I had always thought all you had to worry about then was the last couple of sheds as they clear.
We only have 5 bins for 4 sheds (3*12) on one pair (1*28 and 1*12) on the other pair we then have another Isolated bin that takes 12 tons which we can load out into our own blower trailer so long as there is some in it. or at the end it takes the left over feed from the batch. It can then go into blower and held for next batch. Its so easy when you only have 130K. and Daughter now ordering.

A fair point indeed! Unfortunately we have been victim to busy times and human error creeping in far too often, particularly when of late when we have had large spouts of disease meaning bird numbers constantly changing the amount of feed required, and orders need to be constantly changed.

Agreed close and precise man and woman (particularly in your case!) management negates the need for this but what I want is access to live data , the sooner and more up to date information is the more accurate decisions can be made- we have so many guys on site not everyone always knows what the most up to date situation with feed in bins- hopefully you can see what I mean!

 

[john1968]

Your feeder computer should tell you what the birds are eating per day and you should know how much was put in each bin easy enough to work out what's left in there. It's only at the end when it matters I don't think a bin monitor system would be very exact with dust in the bin and feed hung up one side. If you ask me it would be expensive unnecessary bells and whistle . Bird welfare and feed management are what the manager job is about

 

[chickens and wheat]

everyone have a wattsapp group on phone, try and record and share bin levels on there

 

[GeorgeK]

The tried and tested solution although not as precise would be proximity sensors as used in the grain tanks of lots of equipment already like automated grain dryers and seed drills. They only read on/off relating to whether they are covered by grain or not so you would need 3 or 4 in each tank at different levels, perhaps with the sensor set at the last 1/4 also turning on a warning light or beeper. Proximity sensors are cheap, reliable and pretty simple to use. I also agree that dust may be a problem for lasers, possibly radar would be better but often simplest is best and that's proximity sensors.

 

[Mike_Palin]

Hi all

I manage a 840,000 broiler site in West Norfolk and am looking for reccomendations for reliable remote monitoring sensors for our feed silos- we have 24, 28 tonne silos on site. I have been looking into a cost effective solution so we can live montior feed in each silo for more precise management, looking likely to be a laser sensor hanging from the top of each bin most likely. Happy to take reccomendations of course.

Thank you

Peter

Hi Peter,
Datum Electronics offer bolt-on strain gauge sensors, that are applied to the legs, so no need for the disruption of load cells.
The system comes with a panel meter for calibration, displaying live stock levels and also have to option for 4-20mA or RS485 output and even cloud-based hosted bin level.
Feel free to drop me an email to discuss in more detail.
Best Regards
Mike
[email protected]

 

[Daniel]

Hi Peter,
Datum Electronics offer bolt-on strain gauge sensors, that are applied to the legs, so no need for the disruption of load cells.
The system comes with a panel meter for calibration, displaying live stock levels and also have to option for 4-20mA or RS485 output and even cloud-based hosted bin level.
Feel free to drop me an email to discuss in more detail.
Best Regards
Mike
[email protected]

Have watched the video on your website, how do they work, are they sensing the compression of the steel?

Bolt-on Strain Measurement Sensors | Silo, Container, Tank, Hopper, Bunker Weighing

Datum Electronics bolt-on strain sensors are an ideal solution to many strain measurement requirements. They are robust, dust & water resistant, suitable for the harshest of environments, including high-stress level applications.

datum-electronics.com

 

[Collinson Silos]

Hi Matt- not quite. We already have weigh cells which load out 20kg a time into feed augers, but these can be unrelaible at the best of times. Each bin is indivudally alarmed as and when they are emptied so they can be switched over.

Looking at whats on the market, we think a laser sensor which sits inside at the top of the bin measuring remainign levels would be best, which can also be remotely monitored- not many on the market and difficult to find people who have experience using them! This is mainly live monitor our feed so we can make orders more efficeiently, more fo a challenge near the end of the flock when the chickens are eating alot!

Hi Peter, did you get sorted for silo monitoring? Collinson have added more low cost inventory control systems to the FeedAlert solution with systems now starting from £450. Have a look at feedalert.co.uk or chat to the team on 01995606451.