Robotic milking

[beefyfarmer]

So why would it cost more to keep them in with robots than a parlour then? Surely be cheaper if you get time for spreading slurry etc rather than getting someone in to do it while you milk

It doesn't (bar the extra purchase/running costs of the robot) I am just saying if you have to keep them in just because you have robots rather than turning them out and putting them through a parlour. Most people around here seem to buy robots then end keeping the cows in either by choice or neccessity whether it be they haven't got enough land around the buildings, they have a road going through the farm or they cannot get enough performance from the cows and robots. Where is the time/money saving coming from having robots if they have to be kept in ? ie if robots stop you grazing how do they save any time or money especially with their high initial capital cost ?????
Am I the only one who doesn't get it ? What am I missing ??

 

[cowcrazy]

Our A2 struggles to attach to heifers that are tall with shallow udders laser sees the teats but arm just won't go high enough to attach. Replaced the main ram as Lely said that would help but it made no difference.
Any one got any suggestions attaching 8 2/3 times a day. I know an A4 would be the answer!

 

[happycows]

I have now cured all mine that would not milk. over the space of a few weeks i cranked the arm so it was facing up hill. I had to adjust the park position as it altered this. They are meant to be level but i think i gained about 40mm which was enough to solve the problem.
You should speak to Kevin in Holsworthy he just sold a second hand A4.

 

[cowcrazy]

I have now cured all mine that would not milk. over the space of a few weeks i cranked the arm so it was facing up hill. I had to adjust the park position as it altered this. They are meant to be level but i think i gained about 40mm which was enough to solve the problem.
You should speak to Kevin in Holsworthy he just sold a second hand A4.

Where did you crank the arm to gain the height? Sounds cheaper than an A4!

 

[Peter]

Where did you crank the arm to gain the height? Sounds cheaper than an A4!

A4 does have a higher reach. Last software update actually increased it some more. But to help you out until you update to A4 try the mothership tilt. Will help if it just need that little bit more height. Also helps to keep twintubes fairly new (keep in bag curved until used) they give a spring up when cord released. And keep cords in good condition so they don't bind.

With the cover off the arm. The first 90 degree bend coming towards you from the vertical post. There is two round holes on the face of the frame. Inside a hex head bolts (quite large) that goes through to screw into arm part towards the vertical post. If this bolt is removed you can flip the arm up so the mothership is vertical. But just lossen this bolt and in between the two frames is another bolt (same size as through bolt) that can be unscrewed to tilt the mothership up (or down) thus raising the cups higher. Do a few small increments over a few days so you don't screw up you laser numbers. Most important after adjusting go to "set arm" and adjust the fit to the jetters or you will have washing problems and bacteria count will go up. That extra few millimeters of height helps with those tall heifers. Did this to a couple of 13 year old 20 series many years ago. My avatar is one of them being installed through. Lowered it down through the roof. They are leaving my area heading to their next life at another farm. The farm they were on built a new barn and has A4's now. If I get a chance will get a couple of pictures of the arm bolt location for you. Good luck. lete me know how you get on.

 

[cowcrazy]

Thanks Peter, if you could send a photo or two that would be great. Like you mention on most heifers I only need a small increase.

 

[Peter]

some pictures of the pivot location and lock down bolt. Take off the arm cover and look down the pivot location and you will see a bolt head inbetween the two frame parts. This bolt holds them apart. The more screwed out the more the tilt up of the teat cups. The lockdown bolt pulls against the adjusting bolt, losen it first 14mm hex shoud be one in your robot tool box (if removed you can flip the arm up towards you. Very handy for replacing twin tubes, much nicer than laying on your back under the arm. Very important - go to set arm and adjust the jetter plate to match the change in the teat cups. There are 4 bolts on the vertical post that are slotted, losen them and adjust the jetters, good contact is important for proper washing. Maybe mark the arm before adjusting so you can return to the orginal point. Should not change anything with the laser, actually have found it is improved. Should help a lot with the tall heifers. Frustrating to watch when it just needs to be a centimter closer. Good luck

 

[cowcrazy]

some pictures of the pivot location and lock down bolt. Take off the arm cover and look down the pivot location and you will see a bolt head inbetween the two frame parts. This bolt holds them apart. The more screwed out the more the tilt up of the teat cups. The lockdown bolt pulls against the adjusting bolt, losen it first 14mm hex shoud be one in your robot tool box (if removed you can flip the arm up towards you. Very handy for replacing twin tubes, much nicer than laying on your back under the arm. Very important - go to set arm and adjust the jetter plate to match the change in the teat cups. There are 4 bolts on the vertical post that are slotted, losen them and adjust the jetters, good contact is important for proper washing. Maybe mark the arm before adjusting so you can return to the orginal point. Should not change anything with the laser, actually have found it is improved. Should help a lot with the tall heifers. Frustrating to watch when it just needs to be a centimter closer. Good luck

Thanks Peter I had a look on mine and can see exactly where you mean. I will start adjusting today not too much though to alter the laser!

 

[cowcrazy]

If you were converting an existing shed to take a robot what are the key things within the design to keep the cows as clean as possible? Slats around the robot area would be first on my list. Are slatted passages a must as well??

 

[Peter]

If you were converting an existing shed to take a robot what are the key things within the design to keep the cows as clean as possible? Slats around the robot area would be first on my list. Are slatted passages a must as well??

Space is also key. We have learned over the years cows hate being crowded. If you have a large slatted area check out the discovery. Passages slatted not a must, but will make more work for you keeping them cleaned. Have no slatted floor barns in my area at the moment, do have two under renovation putting robots in. There are a number of new barns in Quebec with slatted floors. Couple of pictures of my personal favourite barn. A compost pack barn, been running a mumber of years now. It is just so peacefull and the cows are very comfortable. The robot is to the bottom left of barn2 pic. The concrete pad in front of the robot has to be cleaned by hand. I know is has debated if it would have been better to be slatted there, but slats can be a problem in our cold climate. Most likely would work fine for you. Maybe if when he is on here next time could give you some ideas to think about. Go and see as many different setups as you can.

 

[stuart]

If you were converting an existing shed to take a robot what are the key things within the design to keep the cows as clean as possible? Slats around the robot area would be first on my list. Are slatted passages a must as well??

You cant store slurry by the robot you can have a slated chanel leading in to a storage tank but you cant slat the whole shed right up to the robot as a storage tank if that makes sence

 

[upnortheast]

Did anyone get to the robot meeting at Leeming last night. Was there anything interesting said about the current situation in the North east ?

 

[Baling Hay]

Space is also key. We have learned over the years cows hate being crowded. If you have a large slatted area check out the discovery. Passages slatted not a must, but will make more work for you keeping them cleaned. Have no slatted floor barns in my area at the moment, do have two under renovation putting robots in. There are a number of new barns in Quebec with slatted floors. Couple of pictures of my personal favourite barn. A compost pack barn, been running a mumber of years now. It is just so peacefull and the cows are very comfortable. The robot is to the bottom left of barn2 pic. The concrete pad in front of the robot has to be cleaned by hand. I know is has debated if it would have been better to be slatted there, but slats can be a problem in our cold climate. Most likely would work fine for you. Maybe if when he is on here next time could give you some ideas to think about. Go and see as many different setups as you can.

That isn't actually a compost barn is it? They seem to be bedded in straw? Do they cultivate the muck every day?


Also what type of roof is on that shed?

 

[Peter]

That isn't actually a compost barn is it? They seem to be bedded in straw? Do they cultivate the muck every day?


Also what type of roof is on that shed?

It is a wecover.net/dairy.php fabric covered.


It is compost. He chops large round bales of straw. Cultivating daly, has told me that when the weather is dry can skip a day or so. Amazing thing it looks like muck but when you grab a handfull it is actually dry. When the cows get up they are very clean. Amazes me every time I am there. Love the smell. It smells like a freshly rototilled garden. I keep telling him I am going to plant trees in the place. He is also letting the cows out when the pasture is in good shape.

 

[Baling Hay]

It is a wecover.net/dairy.php fabric covered.


It is compost. He chops large round bales of straw. Cultivating daly, has told me that when the weather is dry can skip a day or so. Amazing thing it looks like muck but when you grab a handfull it is actually dry. When the cows get up they are very clean. Amazes me every time I am there. Love the smell. It smells like a freshly rototilled garden. I keep telling him I am going to plant trees in the place. He is also letting the cows out when the pasture is in good shape.

Sounds good, I was reading up on those compost barns and it said that straw would not work very well. It is good to see that it does actually work though. I bet he will get more lactations out of his cows, less lameness etc.

 

[upnortheast]

Am I the only one who doesn't get it ? What am I missing ??

Maybe the answer is not on the screen of your calculator.
I enjoy working with dairy cows but have had my fill of working in a hole in the ground for 4 hours a day. In this part there is a shortage of relief milkers (and getting less )
Robots allow us to continue milking cows and both us and the cows have a better life. - and the sums do add up

 

[Peter]

Maybe the answer is not on the screen of your calculator.
I enjoy working with dairy cows but have had my fill of working in a hole in the ground for 4 hours a day. In this part there is a shortage of relief milkers (and getting less )
Robots allow us to continue milking cows and both us and the cows have a better life. - and the sums do add up

Hence the "Live Life Lely"
One of my customers put it the best many years ago -since he took over from his dad, he has doubled production and gone from working 14 hours a day to 8 hours a day. When his son came home, he had to add a second robot and double the heard. "Don't have enough work for two people" Now they have built a new barn with two new A4. He said years ago when we only had 14 robots in the area, I cannot understand why there is a hundred of these around here. Now after we get all that is sold right now, we will have 74. The first ten years was slow growth, then boom in the last year.

 

[Cowgrrrl]

View attachment 145


If you open the top cover .it's on the right just above the top of the middle cover which you can see in the photo , push it up to switch off air

Is it located in a different place on an A4?? I saw a thread where you showed a Lely guy at a farm show and it worked but I have no idea where to find this magic time saving sleeve. I have had 2 A4's for 6 months now and am super excited to figure out this Manual trick so I can be on the loving my Lely wagon. It is super hard to see the picture but I am assuming I am looking at the shiny silver cylinder but don't know if it is in the arm, or main unit, I don't know my robot very well yet Thanks so much for your robot info stumbling on this site is going to alleviate alot of stress.

 

[Chips]

Is it located in a different place on an A4?? I saw a thread where you showed a Lely guy at a farm show and it worked but I have no idea where to find this magic time saving sleeve. I have had 2 A4's for 6 months now and am super excited to figure out this Manual trick so I can be on the loving my Lely wagon. It is super hard to see the picture but I am assuming I am looking at the shiny silver cylinder but don't know if it is in the arm, or main unit, I don't know my robot very well yet Thanks so much for your robot info stumbling on this site is going to alleviate alot of stress.

Yes it's shiny cylinder thing bang in the middle of that little photo(don't know why it uploaded so small) , when cow comes in for 1st time go through normal routine of guiding arm in and then press start connection ,you need to do this to get the pulsation to start , once pulsation starts and arm is scanning press reconnect teat cups to return you to the screen with the arrows but this time with pulsation running ,guide arm into a suitable position for milking then go and slide that silver collar thing up , this will realease the acr ropes and switch vacuum on ,allowing you to attach cups , it will stay on the arrows page but the milk will be separated if needed or sent to tank if not . It will stay on arrows page for a while but eventually thinks you've forgotten about it or something and let the cow out ,about 5 mins I think which is usually enough but if you want longer while she is milking press start conection ,this will take you to the main page and the arm will start scanning which may pull the cups off if the arm moves too far so be quick , press prolong five and then quickly reconnect teat cups to return you to the arrow page ,thus stopping the arm scanning and you can guide the arm into a better position for the cups to sit nice , doing this will buy you 5 mins .
If a cow you want to manually attach has already been milked before and coordinates are known on computer just press reconnect teat cups once it starts scanning or at anytime during the milking process as long as teat brushing has finished and this will take you to the arrows page but this time pulsation will already be running first time so can go straight away and slide collar to manual attach .
The collar on the A3 is located in the cabinet not in the arm and it was the same on the A4 I'm pretty sure ,I have only done it once on a A4 but I'm pretty sure the collar looked identical . A good way to try it out first would be to put the robot out of operation and then slide the collar (it's quite hard to slide) and see if the acr ropes go slack ,if so bingo ,you won't have pulsation or vacuum of course but you'll know it's right . This collar is also useful when changing acr ropes and such work , you will probably see your engineers using it from time to time .
I've never had to manual attach a cow for more than 2-3 days before the udder has changed enough to auto attach and never hear from them again ,it just makes life so less stressful for me and the cows

 

[Cowgrrrl]

I am so happy. I was scared to start pulling things but when you said it was hard to slide and to put it out of operation and with the picture in my mind I slid the shiny thing and the strings when slack and the brush arm fell. I am hoping with the arm in the milking position the brush and cup cover without air won't be a problem of getting in the way. I am also excited about changing the ropes they were such a pain before but without the extra air pressure it should help a lot. I am in awe how you have the manual trick down to an art and thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. I was one of those people who seriously went mad and had a breakdown in the robot room after spending an hour and two robots on one heifer just to get enough milk for a calf. The main frustration is she wasn't that bad just moved a little and would get it on two or three teats and then the arm would swing way out and pull them all off. I have also noticed that once the noise of the arm stops the heifer usually calms right down so getting milked without that noise for the first couple of days when they are nervous is going to be a life saver. It will also be a money saver since I was a few seconds away from taking a sledge hammer to the whole machine Thanks again I am so excited to milk new heifers now.