Mobile robot?

[Turboman]

Any problem with theft in your area? Your going to leave an expensive bit of plant in a corner of a field over night. If thieves didn't take the whole plant they could easily strip a few parts of the robot, don't forget stainless steel is big money when scrapped.

Also you would need to make the system tamper proof. How easy would it be for someone to contaminate a tank of milk? At least with the conventional mobile parlour once the cows are milked the system is then transported back to the yard.

 

[Alfred]

Any problem with theft in your area? Your going to leave an expensive bit of plant in a corner of a field over night. If thieves didn't take the whole plant they could easily strip a few parts of the robot, don't forget stainless steel is big money when scrapped.

Also you would need to make the system tamper proof. How easy would it be for someone to contaminate a tank of milk? At least with the conventional mobile parlour once the cows are milked the system is then transported back to the yard.

Exactly what I was thinking....
Stainless, generator, solar panels for the top of the caravan, diesel and a free pint of milk to quench the thirst as they were striping it! Sure it will work fine.
Just as well advertise "free grazing for pony's" on the robot as well, just to complete the generosity.

 

[Sid]

Pretty much what I thought, although, have a ice bank to cool the milk, a couple of old DX tanks on wheels with no cooling, ~2.5 t hopper on the bot for cake. We're organic so are feeding 2kg in the parlor now their out so then makes it cake every two weeks, swap tanks every two days, take away nasty wash water the other every two days, still a lot of work but isn't it always

I'm mid Devon in answer to other questions if anyone would like to show me their robot's locally that would be great!
Cheers

We are just in North Devon. Organic and grazing on bots

 

[Sid]

Any problem with theft in your area? Your going to leave an expensive bit of plant in a corner of a field over night. If thieves didn't take the whole plant they could easily strip a few parts of the robot, don't forget stainless steel is big money when scrapped.

Also you would need to make the system tamper proof. How easy would it be for someone to contaminate a tank of milk? At least with the conventional mobile parlour once the cows are milked the system is then transported back to the yard.

No its not. Plenty of mobile systems left out and about. Plenty of fixed parlours open to someone if they want to have some bits away etc.

 

[pappuller]

Been watching this thread and I have come to the conclusion that it is a bit of a novelty idea, if your cows aren't able to walk back to a fixed robot then why would you consider a mobile unit ? To me it just seems like recipe for disaster, its not going to be a simple move and milk system, youll end up making more work and just end up been a total messer, seen it done with mobile free range sheds on skids and it aint pretty when the weather turns bad.

 

[robot Jerseys]

But if you built the robot tank genny etc on to a low loader trailer than can be parked at the end of a shed in winter and summer in a gateway on the grazing blocks that the tanker could pick straight up from it would work great

 

[TomB]

So @Slowcow with 60 cows you should only need about 15ha/40acres to graze them on. Unless you have really very little grass close to the farm then a mobile parlour is just a ridiculous idea. There’s too much work pissing about moving it probably tinkering with it to keep a robot running sweetly. Yes there is a certain challenge to it but i think the novelty/satisfaction of making it work would quickly wear off.

Personally a 10/20 swingover would do the job very cost effectively and simply. It wouldn’t need a big building - 20’x40’ would do it.

Just clocked that you are organic, so at a guess you’ll need to halve the stocking rate 80-100acres.

What area do you have in your biggest block? It’s not that big a drama to cross roads (unless it’s the a30!)

 

[Sid]

Been watching this thread and I have come to the conclusion that it is a bit of a novelty idea, if your cows aren't able to walk back to a fixed robot then why would you consider a mobile unit ? To me it just seems like recipe for disaster, its not going to be a simple move and milk system, youll end up making more work and just end up been a total messer, seen it done with mobile free range sheds on skids and it aint pretty when the weather turns bad.

Seen a novelty idea where the calves are left on the cows for a few months and the surlus milk sold for crazy money!
Novelty can pay

 

[pappuller]

Depends how accessible your gateways are, youll need a 40' trailer for all that kit and youll spend too much time packing and unpacking it plus your daily checks and cleaning of the equipment

 

[pappuller]

Seen a novelty idea where the calves are left on the cows for a few months and the surlus milk sold for crazy money!
Novelty can pay

Depends if your a beef farmer or a dairy farmer, why not sell the calf at a fortnight and sell even more surplus milk for crazy money

 

[Sid]

15ha/40acres to graze

Just clocked that you are organic, so at a guess you’ll need to halve the stocking rate 80-100acres.

Was going to pull you up but you have redeemed yourself

 

[Sid]

Depends if your a beef farmer or a dairy farmer, why not sell the calf at a fortnight and sell even more surplus milk for crazy money

Because thats not what the consumer in this case was buying into.
Integrity is key

 

[More to life]

Seen a novelty idea where the calves are left on the cows for a few months and the surlus milk sold for crazy money!
Novelty can pay

I think you've said it else where on the forum no point selling milk for crazy money if your cop is still crazier.

 

[Slowcow]

I must admit it hadn't even crossed my mind some begger might rob it! I was thinking it would need to be secure tho and I'm sure dairy regs would mean tanks need to be secured and I had thought I would make it so the tank is locked into the unit.
I'm glad did said it first, we are/ have been quite fortunate from a theft point of view, some git did steal some old batteries a while ago, probably cos I didn't buy his chainsaws and generator!

I think I said before I'm not set on any single idea at the moment and wanted to explore this one.

We have 60 acres of grazing in one block, the yard is nearly at one end with a steep slope into it from two sides, the furthest field is about half a mile from the yard.

I don't doubt the cows would walk back to a static bot but if you had a pub half a mile away it would get less visits than one next door!

The main problem we have in the autumn is the cows making a mess on the way in and out of the yard, could invest in cow tracks which would help.

Our ground is sh*t or dust and burns up in summer, we have 60 acres four miles away that grows grass all summer, you can see my thinking I'm sure, we other ground a couple miles away that lies drier and could be use in the autumn to extend our grazing.

I'd be interested to see what Sid's doing regarding grazing, do the cows all decide to go at once and then que up in the yard or do they wander back when they fancy as individuals?

Thanks for everyone's opinions, defiantly helps even if you don't agree with me.
Cheers

 

[Einstien]

Usually when people are grazing with robots, just means they use the a couple of fields right next to the buildings (and are normally swapping to encourage throughput) it's grazing, but not really a true grazing rotation of any sort....

And no I haven't seen Sid's

Back to towing a milking parlour around, I suggest making sure the tracks are smooth as silk, or good suspension on the trailer too ;-)

 

[Sid]

I'd be interested to see what Sid's doing regarding grazing, do the cows all decide to go at once and then que up in the yard or do they wander back when they fancy as individuals?

At the momment they are just out by day and wander in from about 3 hours post turn out, some will hang off until 4pm when the gates prevent return to the paddock. Sometimes its bunches sometimes its individuals

Usually when people are grazing with robots, just means they use the a couple of fields right next to the buildings (and are normally swapping to encourage throughput) it's grazing, but not really a true grazing rotation of any sort....

Up to 500m away , i don't do usually

 

[Sid]

So we have 4 areas,
A in green
B in orange
C in purple
D is no colour.
This is the starting plan.
Tracks to be put int his year in black lines, circular route allows access to B from C exit and C from B exit. Flexibility is key to ANY system.
Possible additions are a track through 2229 into 4225
and a track either between 4456 and 6555 or straight across 6555 to give access to 6678.

Tracks aren't in yet because some numpty thought they would wait till august to see how it went 1st season walking cows just on pasture....worked well, tracks were in right place, gold star Sid, but fecking started raining in Mid July and couldn't get anywhere near it to tip the stone...so plan B is to hire a helicopter..........and fly away!....no its to get the tracks in ASAP this spring

 

[Farmer1001]

Been watching this thread and I have come to the conclusion that it is a bit of a novelty idea, if your cows aren't able to walk back to a fixed robot then why would you consider a mobile unit ? To me it just seems like recipe for disaster, its not going to be a simple move and milk system, youll end up making more work and just end up been a total messer, seen it done with mobile free range sheds on skids and it aint pretty when the weather turns bad.

Have a friend selling 5000 litres/wk at £1.50/litre, got out of contract , reduced numbers, took pressure off and never looked back. Some would say that was a novel idea..

 

[Slowcow]

Thanks Sid
How many acres is that and many do you run over it? We're doing 36hr paddocks at the moment, not wedded to it tho....

 

[Sid]

Thanks Sid
How many acres is that and many do you run over it? We're doing 36hr paddocks at the moment, not wedded to it tho....

farm is 80 odd acres. 65 there ATM plan to build to 80.
Will be 8 hr paddocks, fresh grass at every entry to each paddock via dividing fence. Water in every paddock