Carbon-reducing system for dairy hygiene merchandise wins innovation award

A Lancashire-based animal dietary merchandise producer has received the 2023 Innovation Award from the dairy business CREAM awards.

G Shepherd Animal Well being took dwelling the innovation award for its system of reusing packaging for dairy hygiene supplies and guaranteeing streamlined and well timed supply of provides.

The overall plastic use for dairy chemical compounds on UK dairy farms is estimated to be 2,277t/12 months, the corporate stated, and its examine reveals only one re-use cycle saves greater than 99% of the C02.

“We now have estimated that by utilizing extra concentrated chemical compounds and reusing containers the plastic use for a 200-cow herd could be diminished by 395kg a 12 months,” Shepherd stated.

“On a nationwide scale for 1.1million cows this equates to a discount of two,173t of plastic a 12 months.

“This is able to be a big and essential contribution to decreasing the carbon footprint within the UK dairy business.”

Vet Graham Shepherd, who based the corporate in 2008, has been described as being instrumental in creating the system for reusing barrel-type containers, for producing extra concentrated dairy chemical and hygiene merchandise and for extra streamlined supply on to dairy farms.

Named Plasti-Save, Shepherd stated the system can “obtain important financial savings” and that the corporate is aiming for 20 reuses from every plastic barrel – delivering extra concentrated merchandise and decreasing the transport of those supplies.

Plasti-Save

The re-use of containers for the corporate’s teat disinfectants, that promote cow udder hygiene, began in August 2021, adopted by its concentrated BactoBAN dairy cleansing chemical compounds in September 2022.

Shepherd has piloted the scheme and carried out a examine with the College of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) to make sure its effectiveness within the re-use of packaging supplies, and has proven a discount in carbon use of 99% from reusing the packaging.

“And on the finish of its lifespan, the packaging materials could be recycled,” he stated.

“We’ve additionally estimated that our concentrated plant cleansing chemical compounds can save 33% on bundle necessities and supply mileage, which each contribute to a diminished carbon footprint inhte provide chain.”

The corporate will add a distant degree sensing approach for monitoring its chemical and hygiene product use on farm, it stated.

This combines a sensor fitted to the rim of every container linked to a SIM card and app. which permits the corporate to watch ranges from its places of work and prepare the supply of provides extra successfully.

“We are able to handle provides and streamline our transport, and in addition guarantee farmers have supplies as required, serving to to safeguard animal well being and milk hygiene,” Shepherd stated.

G Shepherd Animal Well being quoted the advantages of the Plasti-Save system as:

• Improved animal well being and meals high quality (udder well being, milk hygiene);
• Practically two tonnes much less plastic per 1,000cows a 12 months (equal to 8t of CO2;
• Roughly 33% much less product quantity required which reduces transport miles by 33%;
• Extra transport effectivity with improved supply routes;
• Improved farm cleanliness from much less waste plastic.