In the Avesnois region in Hauts-de-France, Maxime Louguet runs the mixed farming and livestock operation EARL des Belleux. The farm covers 230 hectares, about half of which is permanent grassland. The farm keeps around 400 animals, including 150 dairy cows of the Prim’Holstein and Jersiaise breeds. With an average milk yield of approximately 10,000 litres per cow, around 1.5 million litres of milk are produced annually. In the 30-stall milking parlour, all 150 cows are milked efficiently in about one hour.
The challenge: “it simply had to change”
With the growth of the farm and the approaching retirement of his father, it became clear that feeding needed to be organised differently. Daily work with the feed mixer wagon took a lot of time and required a strict daily routine. Each day, around 2.5 hours in the morning and nearly 2 hours in the evening were spent on feeding. As he says himself: “You spend hours on it every single day.” Time that could be used more efficiently. The search therefore focused on a solution that not only saves time, but also brings more consistency and calm to feeding.
Choosing a feeding robot – Triomatic battery robot WB 2 300
The choice fell on a Trioliet feeding robot. Due to the farm layout, with multiple buildings, height differences and yard traffic, a rail system was not an option. A battery-powered robot provided the necessary flexibility. A key factor was that the robot can move freely. The Triomatic drives autonomously around the yard and crosses intersections with other vehicles without any issues. “No one gets in each other’s way.”
It saves a huge amount of time, the work has become more manageable and the cows are performing better
The robot operates on average around 12 hours per day and fits well into daily operations, with room for future expansion.
The feed kitchen is compact and practical, equipped with stainless steel bins that are easy to fill. This allows anyone on the farm to operate it, from employees to trainees. The system is therefore not dependent on a single person. Thanks to the “first in, first out” principle, the feed remains fresh and of consistent quality.
The difference in practice
The impact on daily work is significant. Where previously several hours per day were needed for feeding, the system now only requires about half an hour every two days. This creates more flexibility and peace in planning.
In addition, the cows receive small, fresh portions multiple times per day, improving intake consistency. This is also noticeable in dry cows, and colostrum quality has improved. Hardly any feed is left over and the feed alleys remain clean. Troughs only need to be cleaned once a week. Compared to the past, when larger portions heated up more quickly, the current smaller, more frequent mixes ensure a stable feeding process.
Guidance and trust
Throughout the entire process, the farm was well supported by Trioliet technicians and installers. From initial planning to installation and training, everything was clear and structured. The system runs reliably and requires little day-to-day attention. There are few malfunctions and hardly any alerts, which creates peace of mind and confidence.
“It saves a huge amount of time, the work has become more manageable and the cows are performing better. The system just works well, and you hardly need to worry about it.”
AutomatiC FEEDING