The timing of the first cut in grassland farming coincides with the fawning season of roe deer and other wild animals. Due to their natural reflex to seek cover, fawns do not run away from danger. This instinctive behaviour makes it especially difficult to spot animals hiding in the grass. It happens over and over again that animals are seriously injured or even killed during mowing.
If the carcass of a wild animal ends up in the clamp, it will decompose and contaminate the forage. Under anaerobic conditions, bacteria of the species Clostridium botulinum produce the neurotoxin botulinum.
Feeding silage contaminated in this way can expose cattle, sheep, horses and poultry to life-threatening botulism.
SENSOSAFE is an automated sensor-based assistance system that detects animals; during mowing it enables you to identify fawns and other wild animals hiding in the field and to save them from getting caught by the mower. You prevent carcasses from contaminating your forage and avoid the risk of your cattle contracting botulism. This system helps you protect wildlife and your livestock at the same time.
A bar with near infrared sensors is mounted in front of the mower. These work independently of daylight and temperature. Unlike thermal imaging cameras, you can rely on SENSOSAFE to work properly in all types of operating conditions.
With SENSOSAFE you do two tasks in one: Mowing and detecting wildlife. No additional time or personnel needed for searching the fields prior to mowing. In addition, you don't need special training or a permit to operate the SENSOSAFE animal detection system.
We developed SENSOSAFE 300 for mowers up to approx. 3 m wide. The sensor bar is fitted to a mounting frame and utilises the tractor's hydraulics. The sensors send a signal to the SELECT CONTROL terminal tractor cab if anything is detected. The system signals the driver both visually and acoustically.
When used with the NOVACAT F ALPIN front mower, the system scans the next pass. For this, the SENSOSAFE sensor bar can be mounted either on the front or rear linkage.
The tractor specifications are easily fulfilled. One double-acting spool valve and a 12 V power supply for the SELECT CONTROL control terminal are all that is needed to use SENSOSAFE.