Milk machine

Greasley123

Member
Location
Derby
lambings coming round quickly and I want to buy a milk machine for the cades, which ones best for roughly 30 cades at a time. I'm not bothered about money to an extent as we aren't bottle feeding them anymore because they turned out crap.
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
Milkmade 2000 will NOT operate with standard powder; very good machine, simple, easy to maintain; but ensure that you can source machine quality powder locally.
It does undermine your choice of milk replacers and ability to haggle a bit. Having said that, Volac MQ is available from all the big merchants at group prices.
http://www.britmix.co.uk/
Not much of a website, but buy direct from the man that makes them.(y)
 
Last edited:

MJT

Member
Have a milkmade 2000 here, very simple machine and does a good job, nice to be able to leave lambs to it once started . Would recommend definately !
 

Girlfarmer

Member
Location
North Yorkshire
We've used the lactek for many years and have used the milkmade 2000 for the last 2 years, rearing over a 100 lambs each year. Pros and cons for both. If only rearing 30ish the lactek may be better as the mixed milk doesn't go cold as quickly but parts are more expensive and the hopper isn't as big for the powder. Less problems with condensation in the reservoir with the milkmade. From personal experience the milkmade has been more reliable so far but as I said only 2 seasons use. It is simply built and looks to be easier to fix than the lactek. Maybe best to hire one for first year to see how u get on with one. You need to keep on top of hygiene, cleaning etc to avoid problems. I find the milkmade easier to clean as u can replace the reservoir with a clean one each day while the spare gets washed. The pump is pretty handy at washing the lines through too.

We have used britmilk vitalamb and volac powder in the past. Going to use shine this year. As long as its a free flow powder it'll be fine.

Hope that helps. Any questions please ask as we've reared well over a 1000 lambs on machines over the years and we're always learning how to improve each year!
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
But I will vouch for the fact that when your back is up against the wall at lambing time, and the finer details go out the window:oops:, the Britmix can be left to get on with it for a few days as long as there is powder in it and a water supply, and there will never be any issues.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Milkmade here using shine powder, works a treat. They’re back up is very good as @neilo found on a Sunday.

I did indeed:). https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/britmix-milk-feeders-fantastic-service.44000/

I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone that was wanting an automatic lamb/calf feeder.(y) I bought mine off Volac, when they were selling their non-Volac ones from their hire fleet, which must have been 15+ years ago. Previously, I'd had FOC hire machines off them for many years, having several different machines over time and had insisted on a Britmix for several years. It was an ex-hire machine back then, and I have spent almost nothing on it since. It just works, and is so simple to clean, and repair when needs be. If it was lost, it would be the only machine I'd look at when trying to find a replacement, although I suspect it would cost a fair bit more than the £175 I paid Volac for it.
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
We use the old Ewe2 to get them started, and keep chucking them in the Milkmade pen as they get the hang of sucking.
They learn off the others very quickly, and only need the milk to have the chill taken off it to be happy enough.
I suspect a new one will be region of £13/1400ish. There are a few characters about selling "serviced" s/h units for £8/900. Farm sale value on a quiet day might get you one for £300.
If you buy a new one you get a fairly comprehensive parts kit with most of the things likely to fail on a Sunday included in it.
 

Bob c

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cotswolds
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neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Milkmade 2000 will NOT operate with standard powder; very good machine, simple, easy to maintain; but ensure that you can source machine quality powder locally.
It does undermine your choice of milk replacers and ability to haggle a bit. Having said that, Volac MQ is available from all the big merchants at group prices.
http://www.britmix.co.uk/
Not much of a website, but buy direct from the man that makes them.(y)

I you have a Downland merchant anywhere near, their Lambforce milk powder is just rebadged Shine (from Ireland), but cheaper. I've been using it for the last 3 years and I think lambs do better on it than Lamlac (or Wynnstay's repackaged version), with fewer stomach upsets. I've always been able to get the MQ version delivered within a few days, even if it meant one of the girls driving up from Gloucestershire with ten bags in her boot one Saturday morning.:) More great service that deserves praise.(y)
 

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