Tikka farm, a large organic dairy farm in Kurikka, Western Finland, needed to build a new barn. The farmers contacted a Finnish architect who won an architectural competition with his new Feed Wall model. The farmers liked the new way of feeding as it seemed to reduce the construction costs and hygienic risks.

The Tikka farm therefore started cooperating with the architect. The Feed Wall System was integrated in an existing barn and later in a newly built barn. Collaboration between the farmers and the architect made it possible to improve the Feed Wall system and make it more reliable. This was done by changing the operation from pneumatic to hydraulic and also by correcting some constructional weaknesses.

What Started the Innovation?

The architect, and son of a dairy farmer, was eager to find out if the feed could be delivered to the cows without going inside the building. As a solution, he developed the Feed Wall System and optimized the system in collaboration with dairy farmers.

How Does the Feed Wall Work?

The Feed Wall System works by driving the feeding tractor outside the barn and delivering the feed through a foldable visor to a bunk that is integrated in the wall of the barn.

The Advantages of the Feed Wall

A traditional dairy barn is expensive to build. One of the reasons is that the floor area is not used optimally due to the feeding wagon that needs a wide alley inside the building. Driving the feeding wagon inside the building also increases the risk of diseases.

Farmers who choose the Feed Wall System will build more economically because the width of the barn is narrower.

“There could be a significant reduction of building costs …  so we made the brave decision to have it” (Vesa Tikka, the farmer)

The system can also be fitted to an existing barn so that more cows will fit in. The hygienic quality of the feed is also better.

The Feed Wall Is On the Market

The end product is ready for the market and it has already been sold to several countries.

”Launching and introducing a new model is always the hardest part of development” (Jouni Pitkäranta, the architect)

Read more about the Finnish Cross Visit.

Watch Video From Tikka Farm
Feed Wall System developed at Tikka Farm