ADF

[Clay52]

Looking at possibly installing ADF what are people's opinion of it and what is the cost per point as I have a 25/50 swingover

One thing I've learnt from this last downturn is I am better off keeping my costs down, my operation simple and put that money away for the next downturn rather than spend it on something that will have zero resale value in a few years and is another thing to break down.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

One thing I've learnt from this last downturn is I am better off keeping my costs down, my operation simple and put that money away for the next downturn rather than spend it on something that will have zero resale value in a few years and is another thing to break down.

But it does save time and time is money.

 

[cattow]

But it does save time and time is money.

& there was 40% grant available

 

[Clay52]

But it does save time and time is money.

How much time are you estimating it saves at what hourly rate.

 

[kp_n_plghng]

But it does save time and time is money.

Agree with this also making the job easier and quicker has lots of other knock on benefits which will be much harder to quantify but are very real and very significant.

 

[Clay52]

Agree with this also making the job easier and quicker has lots of other knock on benefits which will be much harder to quantify but are very real and very significant.

You are forward paying to save labour( which has an opportunity cost) a significant amount for a system with higher running costs that is likely due for replacement by the time it has payed for itself.

I've heard the coverage of the teat dip of adf isn't perfect either. Unless they fixed it.

 

[kp_n_plghng]

I'm not sure why you replied to my post. Do you believe what I said is incorrect in some way?

 

[Clay52]

I'm not sure why you replied to my post. Do you believe what I said is incorrect in some way?

Yes. I don't believe the savings are going to be there.

What are the knock on benifits.

 

[matttargett4]

Ran adf for 4 or 5 yrs

Now run the th white delaval air wash plus

Add was a decent system, problem always was the injector would get blocked, the system pressure goes up and blows the seal between the injector and the sis tube in the shell, this then leaks into the pulsation cavity then gets sucked into the pulsator, would also happen if the unit got kicked off or treated rough.

Next thing you know the pulsator is dead.

Not sure if the new system is different?

Also had lots of problems with the cheap nylon tubing between the pump and the control box splitting, especially the tit dip lines.

We changed parlour and the other system was part of the deal, promised a lot but in reality is no more reliable.

If you rely on employed labour, need good results and have a fair few to put through its essential equipment.

For us the obvious result was a reduction in bactoscan.

No doubt once upon a time people questioned if acrs were worth the money

 

[Rossymons]

For us the big plus was a clean cluster for every cow.

When we installed our first system we had a big mastitis problem and it played a massive part in sorting it out.

We were having high SCCs and mastitis problems again a few years ago. We upgraded the system and that sorted it out too.

I would suggest that cluster flushing is probably the important part rather than the spraying part but 12 years ADF was the only system out there. When we uprgraded 3 years ago we went ADF again because we didn't want to go back to manual spraying.

 

[Flossie]

Hard to say but I wouldn't want to go without it now.

Its one less visit to a cow for the same amount of milk. Plus it makes training staff easier - the gate opens and the cows go. I don't have to worry about them spraying some too much, not enough or not at all.

I think going back to spray the cows is one of the most important times. You spot the cow that has held her milk and needs putting back on, the cow with a string of mozzarella hanging from a teat and needs drawing out and tubing, etc
I'm not convinced tbh for the cost, plus ongoing running expense. You can throw a lot more sawdust on the beds for that money.

 

[whynot2]

Does it save a lot of time? I spray first 6 or so then the gate is open

yes but them cows would already be back in the shed eating with adf

 

[jondear]

yes but them cows would already be back in the shed eating with adf

With a hard quarter or not milked out .

 

[Flossie]

yes but them cows would already be back in the shed eating with adf

Is it just us that have the biggest load of dopes that don't move anywhere?

 

[jondear]

I reckon it's one of those things that if you've had it you wouldn't want to be with out it . Not had it so get on fine.The grants were what got it installed alot round here.I think they don't exist now!

 

[kp_n_plghng]

Yes. I don't believe the savings are going to be there.

As with most things for some people it will pay for others it won't. I haven't made a strong case either way so your hitting a straw man here.

What are the knock on benifits.

I didn't post them because I knew someone would try to pick holes in the points I made, just as you will if I list them. I mean they'll be different for everyone, use your imagination. If you don't agree there any knock on benefits then that's fine, maybe there aren't in your situation.

 

[bigw]

And they are stupidly clumsy. I agree with beeffarmer they are clumsy but never thought about taking the weights off.

I milked with a guy with them in and I thought they were very good.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I milked with a guy with them in and I thought they were very good.

We looked into them. Although the cluster is light it is very bulky imo.

 

[bovine]

What a difference not having to spray teats would make. How's the teat coverage and condition, do you notice any difference from dip/spray before? What type of liners are used, on clover here and like them as triangular.

I'm not a fan, because it does a crappy job of spraying teats. Only covers the end and then takes half of it back off as as squeegee effect as the cluster is removed. Better than a bad man, but far far far worse than a good man. We know whole teat barrel should be covered for optimal teat skin health and bacteria killing. The ring at the top (that gets the pressure from the liner itself) can't get sprayed as there is no access with ADF.

If you want a cluster flush then get one, but find someone who will check cows and spray teats properly afterwards. Benefits already discussed in this thread.

There is also a nice study done by a Nottingham Uni student showing that it doesn't do much (unless really bad) in terms of new cases of mastitis either (some farms got worse after installing ADF). People often buy these systems with unrealistic expectations - the vast majority of mastitis these days is environmental and these systems do nothing for that.

 

[Iogijones]

Had adf 2 yrs now, had a 0% finance for two years. First few months we had more mastitis ,then after changing the dip everything improved so all working well now. Teat coverage is very good, clusters are a bit too long as some are touching the floor while milking the jerseys!