Mobile robot?

[Slowcow]

Hi all,
Be gentle its my first time....!
Bit of back ground, we are a family farm 70 cows worn out parlor grandad bought in the seventies (second hand mind, and the finance is cleared!) organic so grazing is a must.

I've had a idea it might be possible to mobilize a milking robot, the farm is a funny shape and I'm not sure it lends itself to a static robot with the cows walking back.

I know there is/was a German chap who made one that could be moved but I'm thinking wheels and move it regular. It would open up more grazing (we are land locked) and mean the cows wouldn't be walking too far.

We have been living off grid for the last 2 years (not a hippie just western power wanted half the cost of the house for a connection) so I know the challenges of supplying power with generators and batteries.

Do folks think this is feasible and if not why not?

We went to see a delaval vms a friend has recently, anyone around Devon got a fullwood they'd like to show off?

Think I can find a Lely to look at...!

Cheers

 

[Sid]

Won't find many Fullwoods down this way.
Few GEA..best stay clear...plenty of lely only 1 i know grazing...few VMS...few grazing...like i am.

If you can find a mobile robot then 2nd herd may robot as well!

 

[Slippery Slope]

Can't see why it's not possible, just a modern version of the mobile milking bails that used to operate down on the Somerset levels. Think you'd get a lot of interest of you could get it to work!

 

[Graham R]

Wouldn't you need a generator running 24/7 with a robot, mobile or not?

 

[glasshouse]

Hi all,
Be gentle its my first time....!
Bit of back ground, we are a family farm 70 cows worn out parlor grandad bought in the seventies (second hand mind, and the finance is cleared!) organic so grazing is a must.

I've had a idea it might be possible to mobilize a milking robot, the farm is a funny shape and I'm not sure it lends itself to a static robot with the cows walking back.

I know there is/was a German chap who made one that could be moved but I'm thinking wheels and move it regular. It would open up more grazing (we are land locked) and mean the cows wouldn't be walking too far.

We have been living off grid for the last 2 years (not a hippie just western power wanted half the cost of the house for a connection) so I know the challenges of supplying power with generators and batteries.

Do folks think this is feasible and if not why not?

We went to see a delaval vms a friend has recently, anyone around Devon got a fullwood they'd like to show off?

Think I can find a Lely to look at...!

Cheers

it would work a treat i think.
move it inside for winter.

 

[Slowcow]

Thanks for the quick replies,
You can do a lot with a large battery, inverter and generator nowadays. A 10kva Genny produces 10kw of hot water when its running, I'm guessing hot water is a major energy cost for a robot?

I was thinking the same, move it round the grazing in the summer and back in the yard in the winter.

Our house is new and v well insulated , led lights etc, 1kw of solar panels and the Genny goes every 2 days or so , its fully loaded for 2-3 hrs to recharge.

I think it would need to run a fair bit in a robot but if its doing hot water it might not even be worth connecting up in the yard.

I don't see powering it as a problem, its tech hitches and details I'm not aware of I'm after? Many minds etc!

I'm not set on a make yet, it will be 2nd hand, I've heard fullwoods are the easiest for farmer maintenance?

Any thoughts?
Cheers

 

[Agrispeed]

I don't really have anything to add, but this sounds like a fantastic idea if you can get it to work. I will watch with interest.

 

[Slowcow]

Thanks,
It will take a while to say the least, hope you're patient!
I've thought it would be a good idea for some time but can't see that anyone has done it , makes me think there must be a reason?
Cheers

 

[sidjon]

 

[Slowcow]

Well I'll be , I went in YouTube and all! You got to know what to google!
Thanks for that, will look properly tomorrow, bed time, got to milk in the morning.....

 

[Slippery Slope]

Probably because of the hassle involved. Presumably your thinking of one robot which I guess is for 60 ish cows and most grazers will have enough land to satisfy them near to buildings hence that's why no one else is doing it. Doesn't mean it can't be done though - good luck!

Thanks,
It will take a while to say the least, hope you're patient!
I've thought it would be a good idea for some time but can't see that anyone has done it , makes me think there must be a reason?
Cheers

 

[IrishPat]

It can be done, but it looks like a lot of work.

 

[Slowcow]

Thanks again,
Got to like Benny hill music for moving cows, their not short staffed are they?! Both are along the lines I'm thinking, first one more so, like the tracked container. It gets sticky here!

I'm also thinking it maybe beneficial for foot health if the don't walk back to the yard each time for milking?

 

[jimmer]

Sorry to say this but , you still need to go to ,move , fill cake hopper, wash and check robot twice a day , what about the one bulling you have to go get that's now in middle of 6 acre field
For 60 cows I would suggest a 6 abreast on skids would be as quick , less hassle and maintenance , and damn sight cheaper

 

[Slippery Slope]

For 60 cows I would suggest a 6 abreast on skids would be as quick , less hassle and maintenance , and damn sight cheaper[/QUOTE]

Yeah but you wouldn't get a shiny pair of overalls to let everyone know that you've got a robot!

 

[Slowcow]

I'm a 'end user' I think is the term, no ones going to give me shiny overalls .

I didn't really want a discussion about one versus the other , more the technical problems might be faced in doing it, but seen as been mentioned, I dont think mobile parlor is a terrible idea, you just need to compare like with like, both will demand cake water power and the milk taking away every other day so that time applies to both , its not rocket science to have a shedding gate and pen for ai , a robot will probably do each cow 2.5-3 times a day. I don't fancy 3 times a day in a mobile 6 abreast even in june!

Also the information a robot collects seems to be pretty important for managing the cows, we all know dairy is detail .

Cost , your going to be right no doubt but a relief milker isnt free.

I'm still not decided but err towards robot second hand doesn't seem too bad?
Cheers

 

[robot Jerseys]

I love the idea toyed with it my self. Even if you had it like in the video and moved from the winter shed out to semi pemimiment field locations set in grazing blocks. When out at grass they aren't on much corn and with a track etc tanker could collect from field.

 

[Einstien]

I made millions investing in mobile milking robots, said no one ever!

That said, it does look like a fun exercise if you got cash to burn investing in it!

 

[jimmer]

There isn't much gain from milking cows on just grazed grass and cake more than twice a day . There is probably more finance gain by dropping a milking ,not gaining one. If there is one thing this last 5 years has demonstrated its thst over complicating things increase chances of long term failure

 

[Beef farmer]

This is a gimmick, you could milk 60 cows in a cheapo 20/40 quicker than you could read this thread.

Sorry