TMR mixer wagon real time moisture measurement of animal forages

A system, based on microwave resonance technology, to measure the forages moisture during TMR mixer wagon loading was implemented and tested. A commercial microwave moisture sensor for bulk materials was used. It was first calibrated over different types of silages (corn, high moisture corn, grass) using samples collected from different dairy farms located in Lombardy (Northern Italy), then it was mounted behind the loading drum of the conveyor arm of a horizontal self-propelled mixer wagon and integrated in an online measurement system designed to record in real-time and continuously the silages moisture content during the TMR mixer wagon loading. The system was tested at the University of Milan experimental farm (Landriano, Italy) on corn and high moisture corn silages. Additional tests were carried out also on barley and soybean silages. Preliminary results highlighted that the microwave sensor provided accurate silage moisture data, especially for corn silage. The accurate estimation of silages moisture content during the loading phase will enable the realtime adjustment of the as fed inclusion rate of each silage in the ration, ensuring the provision of the right dry matter amount. This is expected to increase TMR consistency, finally benefiting animals’ health and performances.