Greenfield Dairy Site Design

[kentishmack]

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

 

[surprisefarmer]

6 robots for the numbers you are looking, I suppose it depends on what you want to achieve.

My view would be 6 robots, high yielding cows, in 365 days and pushed as hard as you can.

 

[More to life]

Future proof 1000 acres then put in 1000 cubicles

 

[pappuller]

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 ?

 

[thewalrus]

How many months of the year can you graze?

 

[kentishmack]

How many months of the year can you graze?

Lets say potential for 6-7 months grazing

 

[kentishmack]

What is your milk buyers criteria ?

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.

 

[More to life]

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.

Build it as soon as possible as planning is getting near impossible

 

[vantage]

Hobby or to make a decent return on invested capital?

 

[Princess Pooper]

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.

 

[kentishmack]

Hobby or to make a decent return on invested capital?

Bottom line is key. But don’t say don’t bother building !!!!!

 

[sidjon]

1200 cows milked OAD (600 morning milking and 600 afternoon) spring calved over 9 weeks, 70 point deck and sit back and watch the money roll in

 

[pappuller]

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.

 

[More to life]

1200 cows milked OAD (600 morning milking and 600 afternoon) spring calved over 9 weeks, 70 point deck and sit back and watch the money roll in

Two sites 600 on each TAD

 

[bigw]

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.

I don’t think you are going to have to wait 20 years for legislation as I think it’s just round the corner.

 

[sidjon]

Two sites 600 on each TAD

3 herds of 500 through the same shed if TAD, but wouldn't know what to do with all the profits

 

[kentishmack]

I don’t think you are going to have to wait 20 years for legislation as I think it’s just round the corner.

Absolutely - we are aware of what’s around the corner - but need to be looking much further ahead too if we can

 

[Barmyfarmer]

What's your interest? Big milk Holsteins or efficient grazers? Pointless choosing a system you don't have an interest in

 

[aidan]

How much annual rainfall do you get wherever you are based, and how much during winter months

 

[kentishmack]

How much annual rainfall do you get wherever you are based, and how much during winter months

750mm