Milking robots

[Ic6718]

Considering installing robots. What are the drawbacks and things you wish you’d have known before installing them.

 

[TheRanger]

Electricity cost will be a big one at the moment. If you're on 60p/kWh, the electricity saving between an oversized parlour milking for an hour at each end of the day and robots, would probably pay for the man to do the milking.

 

[yin ewe]

Going 10 years now and wouldn't be keen to go back to a parlour. Backup from your dealer is key, haven't been let down once by lely centre eglish.
IMO once you go over 3/4 robots you are better with a parlour as you're going to be employing a fair amount of labour, so you may as well pay them to milk, close the door and forget about milking til the next morning.
There's a thread called 'robotic milking' with plenty of useful information on here.

 

[Ic6718]

Electricity cost will be a big one at the moment. If you're on 60p/kWh, the electricity saving between an oversized parlour milking for an hour at each end of the day and robots, would probably pay for the man to do the milking.

I think we have around 30kw of solar panels and currently paying less than30p/kWh for fixed price for next couple years
Also it will be about 120-130 cows so only 2 robots

 

[FarmerWasty]

You've got breed cows for teat placement before you start (or be able milk reject cows in a parlour). Feed more cake than a conventional system. Realise that robot costs more to run than parlour + staff member. Be tech savy willing to fix issues and wake up at stupid o clock for the things. Have a good setup for maintenance and for cows. You need to be pushing 3 visits a day so make sure your cows and setup can help towards that instead of hinder.
Rule 1 have the b3at possible dealer back up you can.

 

[Blue.]

Going 10 years now and wouldn't be keen to go back to a parlour. Backup from your dealer is key, haven't been let down once by lely centre eglish.
IMO once you go over 3/4 robots you are better with a parlour as you're going to be employing a fair amount of labour, so you may as well pay them to milk, close the door and forget about milking til the next morning.
There's a thread called 'robotic milking' with plenty of useful information on here.

What’s your plan when it needs replacing?

 

[yin ewe]

What’s your plan when it needs replacing?

Not really sure tbh, it'll do at least another 10 years without any problem, by that time we'll know if any of the children are interested in taking over and move on from there.

 

[TheRanger]

I think we have around 30kw of solar panels and currently paying less than30p/kWh for fixed price for next couple years
Also it will be about 120-130 cows so only 2 robots

We may all be on 60p/kWh in a few years time once contracts run out. Factor that into your calculations robots or parlour

 

[pappuller]

Not really sure tbh, it'll do at least another 10 years without any problem, by that time we'll know if any of the children are interested in taking over and move on from there.

Snap