Catalogue of Infrastructures and Facilities

In this facility, 120 calves can be housed from 15 days old until weaning. They arrive in the facility in batches and are housed in groups of up to 6 calves, living in free pen, on straw. Due to a breeding conduct in batches, this facility is not always at its maximum hosting capacity

Facility

B6-B9

In this facility, animals are housed here from weaning until slaughter, in 15 batches. They are housed in free pens, on straw. Due to a breeding conduct in batches, this facility is not always at its maximum hosting capacity.

Facility

B10

In this facility, animals are housed here from weaning until slaughter, in 10 batches. They are housed in free pens, on straw. Due to a breeding conduct in batches, this facility is not always at its maximum hosting capacity.

Facility

B11

In this facility, animals are housed here from weaning until slaughter, in 11 batches. They are housed in free pens, on straw. Due to a breeding conduct in batches, this facility is not always at its maximum hosting capacity.

Facility

Broceliande Moors

A herd of 15 Salers and Armoricaine cows are conducted extensively on this land. The herd is given access to the moorland from early spring to late autumn; the exact dates can vary from one year to the next. This serves as a good example of extensive breeding in large and remote rural areas, with limited physical access and limited access to any kind of communication network.

Infrastructure

CIRBEEF

Located in Mauron, 50 km from Rennes (Brittany, France), the farm is at the heart of a major dairy basin, with average soil and climate conditions regarding those observed in western France. The station focuses on three main themes in order to meet the challenges faced by breeders and the dairy industry: - Creating added value by responding to market needs, using pure dairy calves or dairy-meat crossbred calves. - Optimise fattening of cull dairy cows. - Test tomorrow's forage resources The experimental activity involves the collection of numerous data on the site's different batches of animals, in buildings or on pasture, depending on the experimental protocols in place. Here are a few examples of the technologies studied: - Ultra-high-frequency loops for monitoring the use of points of interest (e.g., drinking troughs). - 3D imaging prototypes to assess cattle body condition. - Virtual fences to geolocate and guide animals in grazing areas. The CIRBEEF is run by a management association that includes a number of partners: Idele, FNPL, La Coopération Agricole Laitière, FNIL, CILOUEST, Interbev Bretagne, CAB, FCEL, F@rm XP, FRSEAO, Synetics, etc.

Facility

Digi'Bat

This facility matches the most frequently encountered buildings in calf breeding farms. However, with its various equipment and connected sensors, it allows working on working comfort, interest in automation, and benefits of new technologies. It is divided into 2 rooms of 96 slots, one with classical dynamic ventilation and the other with centralised dynamic ventilation. Each room is composed of 12 pens for 8 calves each, with open-work wood flooring.

Facility

Igloos

CIRVEAU has 4 10-spot igloos, which are collective outdoor pens, covered and mobile. A shelter in the form of an igloo is provided to the animals at the back of the pen. The whole is placed on a concrete platform, covered with straw bedding when animals are present.

Facility

Indi'Bat

This facility allows for a more fundamental approach to research work. Individual measurements on zootechnical performances but also on feed intake are possible through the use of weighing feeding troughs and connected drinking troughs. The INDI’BAT also allows testing different ambient conditions and analysing effluents produced. It is divided into 4 bioclimatic rooms with 24 spots, a room with an outdoor courtyard with 24 spots, and a metabolic room. Animals are housed on open-work wood flooring.

Facility

Open'Bat

The structure of the OPEN’BAT has a widely open natural ventilation, and animals are given access to outdoor courtyards that can evolve to access pasture. The floor is modular: litter or wooden open-work floor. Those characteristics allow studies on the feasibility of breeding calves in line with society’s expectations.

Infrastructure

CIRVEAU

Located in Mauron, 50 km from Rennes (Brittany, France), CIRVEAU lies at the heart of a major dairy basin and France's leading veal-producing region. Inaugurated in 2024, the site has been designed to provide technical and economic references that meet both societal and farmer expectations. CIRVEAU was born of the relocation of AGESEM, IDELE's former veal calf experimental station, which was facing major modernisation needs. The new station benefits from a team with almost 50 years' experience in calf experimentation. CIRVEAU has been awarded the DIGIFERME® label, and its aim is to use digital technology to meet breeders' demands for efficiency and modernity and to adapt to consumer expectations. Examples of technologies evaluated: - Pedometers to measure calf activity. - Ultra-high-frequency (UHF) identification antennae to assess frequentation of points of interest (drinking troughs, courtyards, etc.). - Boluses to monitor intra-ruminal temperature

Facility

Tosca