Greenfield Dairy Site Design

Only an academic project at this stage, but based upon real life situation so some potential to follow through.

Looking to design Greenfield dairy site for 400-450 cows on ringfenced 1000 acre unit. What would people suggest is the most futureproof solution, baring in mind any future environmental constraints.

Parlour design. Rotary? 400 cows too many to do robotically?
Bedding and Slurry Management. Sand? Slurry separator? Covered Lagoon.
High input 365 housed or lower input grazing based system.

Plus any other thoughts. TIA
 

pappuller

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
M6 Hard shoulder
Only an academic project at this stage, but based upon real life situation so some potential to follow through.

Looking to design Greenfield dairy site for 400-450 cows on ringfenced 1000 acre unit. What would people suggest is the most futureproof solution, baring in mind any future environmental constraints.

Parlour design. Rotary? 400 cows too many to do robotically?
Bedding and Slurry Management. Sand? Slurry separator? Covered Lagoon.
High input 365 housed or lower input grazing based system.

Plus any other thoughts. TIA
What is your milk buyers criteria ?
 
Location
East Mids
Think of the following:
- ammonia control (interesting work in the Netherlands on this)
- slurry control
- clean/dirty water - rain water storage and reuse
- biosecurity including the ability to isolate different sheds especially youngstock and to keep our stripey friends out.
- handling facilities - lots of work done by the likes of Temple Grandin now, also think staff safety
- secure feed storage
- visibility from our lovely animal rights friends & site security
- staff facilities, rest room etc
- severe weather proofing (heat, torrential rain etc)

Rather than ending up with acres of concrete, make it a pleasant place - a little paddock in the middle to put the odd wobbly cow in if you need to, or a group of calves, a few trees to break things up, somewhere for staff to sit outside in the summer, etc etc.
 

pappuller

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
M6 Hard shoulder
Based upon Farm currently supplying Arla, but more concerned about potential legislation that may come in in 20 years time for example - which is a guessing game.
A constituents type cow would be a favourable i would have thought so a grazing based system would be my first choice if your farm will allow it, possibly summer/autumn calving bias to catch the + milk price.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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