Robotic milking

[westvalley87]

Thanks very much. Absolutely makes sense and I have seen free access at work on a few farms very well...perhaps trying to be too clever and the marginal gains of pre-selection isn't worth the other issues it causes!

based in west midlands and trying to use robot and parlour together due to the cost of putting in 4 robots in one hit!

 

[Bald Rick]

Thanks very much. Absolutely makes sense and I have seen free access at work on a few farms very well...perhaps trying to be too clever and the marginal gains of pre-selection isn't worth the other issues it causes!

based in west midlands and trying to use robot and parlour together due to the cost of putting in 4 robots in one hit!

Would have thought it would be the other way around - marginal losses from pre selection. Works far better allowing the cow herself to choose. Our worst culprit entered the box 137 times in 24 hours when she first discovered that we fed cake in the bots. Calmed down to around 20 visits per day by the time she went off. Provided that you have enough free time in the system, free access is the way to go.

(PS save money, buy 3 used! You know you want to)

 

[pappuller]

Thanks very much. Absolutely makes sense and I have seen free access at work on a few farms very well...perhaps trying to be too clever and the marginal gains of pre-selection isn't worth the other issues it causes!

based in west midlands and trying to use robot and parlour together due to the cost of putting in 4 robots in one hit!

If you wish you can come and see ours we are jnc 17 on the m6

 

[Scholsey]

Thanks very much. Absolutely makes sense and I have seen free access at work on a few farms very well...perhaps trying to be too clever and the marginal gains of pre-selection isn't worth the other issues it causes!

based in west midlands and trying to use robot and parlour together due to the cost of putting in 4 robots in one hit!

Where in the west mids are you?

 

[yin ewe]

Usually the only cows we ever have to bring to the robot are those with something wrong with them (feet and mastitis) so I don't think that guided traffic would make any difference here. Have 69 milking at the moment which is too many, down to 7% free time, (still not as good as bald rick). The last 3 days no of milkings were 193,195 & 201, would guided traffic increase this?

 

[wasted years]

Hello everyone, looking at putting robots in and just wondering if anyone had any feed back from the GEA monobox v's the de laval robot? We are AYR milking Holstein's... looking at utilising 2 robots for the higher yielding cattle. Any one had experience of mixing conventional milking and robot milking?
Looked at the usual three but not been impressed by Lely, specifically around their attitude. They have the attitude that they will automatically get the business and unwilling to consider any thing other than free access. (Plus they are a lot more expensive)

Whether you go forced or free access is up to you not a rep.
Lely are dear because they work and you will just have to put up their arrogance.
The other makes are cheaper because they aren't as well proven, back up is key.
Keep in mind that Lely dealers are effectively franchised they have a vested interest in keeping you milking, be very careful using a parlour supplier that is adding robots to the long list of other items that he sells, he may decide not to sell them or switch brands and he isn't going to consult you, what ever he may say.
Secondhand Lely is the way to go.

 

[yin ewe]

Whether you go forced or free access is up to you not a rep.
Lely are dear because they work and you will just have to put up their arrogance.
The other makes are cheaper because they aren't as well proven, back up is key.
Keep in mind that Lely dealers are effectively franchised they have a vested interest in keeping you milking, be very careful using a parlour supplier that is adding robots to the long list of other items that he sells, he may decide not to sell them or switch brands and he isn't going to consult you, what ever he may say.
Secondhand Lely is the way to go.

Have to agree that back-up is the key to robotic milking. Any of the robots on the market will milk cows, when it's broke down it won't milk anything. Backup over here in NI is great, really couldn't fault them, and if they think they can talk you through sorting it out over the phone then they will try that, if you've got the right part then most stuff can be sorted with a good set of allen keys. Remember the engineer doesn't really want to be standing in your yard at 3am anymore than you do!!

 

[Sid]

I was looking at the Lely website earlier.

They even want you to use their bagged feed and, scrapers, silage pushers, crush, etc etc

 

[Bald Rick]

I was looking at the Lely website earlier.

They even want you to use their bagged feed and, scrapers, silage pushers, crush, etc etc

Oh @Sid ........... that is total bollox & you know it

Plenty of other options for pushers, scrapers etc and I am not adverse to looking very closely at the Wasserbauer Butler when we look to replace our knackered Juno but more than happy to keep the discoveries because they work!

 

[wasted years]

Have to agree that back-up is the key to robotic milking. Any of the robots on the market will milk cows, when it's broke down it won't milk anything. Backup over here in NI is great, really couldn't fault them, and if they think they can talk you through sorting it out over the phone then they will try that, if you've got the right part then most stuff can be sorted with a good set of allen keys. Remember the engineer doesn't really want to be standing in your yard at 3am anymore than you do!!

Agreed, now that Lely Longtown are our service centre they try to sort everything on the phone.
I would say the worst part of having a service contract is not knowing the machine well enough, we haven't had a contract for about 4 years now and I wouldn't go back to one.

 

[kill]

I was looking at the Lely website earlier.

They even want you to use their bagged feed and, scrapers, silage pushers, crush, etc etc

When my Lely rep quoted on a new A4 for me he was far keener on talking about all the Lely fancy products such as the slurry sucker and silage pusher and fancy all singing electronic foot crush than he ever was at the simple grazing system I wanted the A4 to fit into that will never want such toys.

 

[pappuller]

When my Lely rep quoted on a new A4 for me he was far keener on talking about all the Lely fancy products such as the slurry sucker and silage pusher and fancy all singing electronic foot crush than he ever was at the simple grazing system I wanted the A4 to fit into that will never want such toys.

For me lelys two finest products are the robot and the juno, they will return the best of any in my opinion

 

[Sid]

Oh @Sid ........... that is total bollox & you know it

Plenty of other options for pushers, scrapers etc and I am not adverse to looking very closely at the Wasserbauer Butler when we look to replace our knackered Juno but more than happy to keep the discoveries because they work!

It is i agree.
All these large multinationals want you to be red blue or green through and through.

 

[Col555]

When my Lely rep quoted on a new A4 for me he was far keener on talking about all the Lely fancy products such as the slurry sucker and silage pusher and fancy all singing electronic foot crush than he ever was at the simple grazing system I wanted the A4 to fit into that will never want such toys.

Lely rep I’ve dealt with hardly had a sales pitch at all, basically spent more time slagging off all the competition and not really selling me his own product. I personally hate that in a sales rep.
As someone said earlier, it was all said with a certain arrogance that put me totally off the Lely brand.....as well as the robot price and the service contract terms and price.

 

[cowcrazy]

Does anyone know if these GEA liners are available in the UK? They fit an A4 shell and are square inside, users are reporting significant increases in milk speeds.

 

[Stuart1]

Does anyone know if these GEA liners are available in the UK? They fit an A4 shell and are square inside, users are reporting significant increases in milk speeds.

Any joy? How true do you think it is that they increase the milk speed? Did you read it online somewhere or hear first hand.

 

[cowcrazy]

No joy yet, I read what people are saying in N America about their first hand experience and it's all positive,

 

[Seasider]

Hello everyone, looking at putting robots in and just wondering if anyone had any feed back from the GEA monobox v's the de laval robot? We are AYR milking Holstein's... looking at utilising 2 robots for the higher yielding cattle. Any one had experience of mixing conventional milking and robot milking?
Looked at the usual three but not been impressed by Lely, specifically around their attitude. They have the attitude that they will automatically get the business and unwilling to consider any thing other than free access. (Plus they are a lot more expensive)

There are advantages of a “guided “ traffic system . I’ve been using one for almost nine years . My guess is 90% of systems are not guided and when potential robot users visit our system, most wish to maximise production and non guided is in my opinion their best option, for those who wish to maximise profit from forage I suggest they take a more in depth look at guided. At this point it maybe worth noting ALL manufacturers recommend selection gates for grazing.

 

[upnortheast]

for those who wish to maximise profit from forage I suggest they take a more in depth look at guided.

Interesting comment, care to explain ?

 

[Seasider]

Interesting comment, care to explain ?

Upnortheast, if you pm me I’m more than happy to do so.