Automatic calf feeder

[pappuller]

Have replacement heifer calves on an auto feeder (13 years old, but reliable and working well) on a decent milk powder (6.5L per day working out at 30ppl, but that’ll be up significantly on the next pallet load by the look of things).

AA beef calves are in hutches on colostrum/waste milk, topped up with milk powder if necessary. They’re probably on 8L per day on average.

This works well for us as I wouldn’t want to feed replacements any waste milk from a disease prevention point of view. The ones in hutches generally do quite a bit better. Time wise the feeder probably does save a bit of time, and is definitely more flexible time wise. But there probably isn’t that much in it overall. We clean the teats with a disinfectant spray 3x per day and replace them probably twice a week.

If I had the funds to buy a new auto feeder, I’d probably spend it on hutches with decent penning and a nicely drained concrete base to site them, and a basic milk cart type machine that you could use with waste milk and/or powder.

I think I’v seen @coomoo post pics of his setup, which looked ideal.

How much powder per day ?

 

[TheRanger]

How much powder per day ?

6.5L at 160g/L on the auto feeder so just over 1kg/day. 24% protein whey based.

 

[pappuller]

6.5L at 160g/L on the auto feeder so just over 1kg/day. 24% protein whey based.

We are pushing similar at our beef calves atm, feeding 50 tb restricted calves with cows milk doesn't appeal when b litres are circa 40p

 

[Blue.]

I sold mine,we simply didn’t get along with it,went back to hutches and a milk taxi.

 

[pappuller]

I have a wife, nothing better for feeding calves

 

[Jdunn55]

I have a wife, nothing better for feeding calves

That's one way to make an auto calf feeder look cheap I suppose

 

[Fergieman]

I sold mine,we simply didn’t get along with it,went back to hutches and a milk taxi.

Same here. Didn't suit our older traditional buildings but have since built a new calf shed but stuck with milk taxi.

 

[Jdunn55]

Thanks for the replies, those who have used them/are using them, from what you guys have said, you need a concrete floor that drains well? In which case that pretty much rights my farm off from having one, all the concrete here is supposed to drain up hill, or else has 2 foot craters in it that create lovely ponds for my geese to swim in was hoping it could go in my earth floor shed which keeps dry but I can't afford concrete and the likelihood of it being concreted by the landlord is absolute nil

Back to the drawing board if that's the case :/

 

[pappuller]

Thanks for the replies, those who have used them/are using them, from what you guys have said, you need a concrete floor that drains well? In which case that pretty much rights my farm off from having one, all the concrete here is supposed to drain up hill, or else has 2 foot craters in it that create lovely ponds for my geese to swim in was hoping it could go in my earth floor shed which keeps dry but I can't afford concrete and the likelihood of it being concreted by the landlord is absolute nil

Back to the drawing board if that's the case :/

How many calves do you anticipate having on milk at peak ?
volac used to do a hire scheme iirc might e worth a look.
as with all automation it needs managing and can make things much worse if its not managed properly

 

[coomoo]

Same here. Didn't suit our older traditional buildings but have since built a new calf shed but stuck with milk taxi.

What design did you go for @Fergieman? Might of missed it but pictures like your cow shed would be great to see.

 

[Spudley]

Trailed feeder and rear them outside?

 

[Jdunn55]

How many calves do you anticipate having on milk at peak ?
volac used to do a hire scheme iirc might e worth a look.
as with all automation it needs managing and can make things much worse if its not managed properly

2022 30-50
2023 50+
2024 120ish
If they did that would be useful, I'll ask the question at the very least

 

[pine_guy]

Trailed feeder and rear them outside?

My intention for start of calving in April next year

 

[Beef farmer]

or even in a shed

 

[Beef farmer]

2022 30-50
2023 50+
2024 120ish
If they did that would be useful, I'll ask the question at the very least

Use the money and buy 5 heifers

 

[In the pit]

Is there not a young woman roundabout who wants a hours worth of work at both ends of the day
It’s what we have here

 

[Martyn]

View attachment 998769or even in a shed

We have got on well with above, quite simple, has some scour this year but found UV bulb gone in dairy so think it was a water issue.

 

[Samcowman]

2022 30-50
2023 50+
2024 120ish
If they did that would be useful, I'll ask the question at the very least

I don’t know your system but with space and facilities short would it be better to sell your beef calves at 10days - 2 weeks old and save yourself the times and space for replacements.

 

[Grassman247]

would love to rip mine out. The que at the station says it all really

 

[Pigken]

View attachment 998795
would love to rip mine out. The que at the station says it all really

Sorry to be noisy but is there any chance of picture of front of building, and dimensions , love look of it and calves look very good.