Scraping out… Robotics, automatic scrapers or tractors?

[Chasingthedream]

We are currently building new cubicle housing for 100 cows and are at a crossroads with regards to scraping out.

My dad wants to install a lely/jos slurry collector

I would prefer to install Storth rope scrapers

My brother would prefer to scrape the building out with the machine.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bald Rick]

Collectors get lost
Rope scrapers can (& do) break legs
Would need a human every day

 

[Headless chicken]

All have their pluses and minus’

I’d say it depends on your financial position. One sucker won’t cover 100 cows so you’ll need 2 so that’s 38k.
1500 litres a month for 5 years

Ropes would be 15k
625 litres for 5 years

We have ropes and robot. Wouldn’t want to go back to tractor scraped but it does come at a significant cost and it’s hurting right now.

out of choice I’d go robots though purely because you can lift them out of the way if somethings gone wrong and deal with it later. If the rope snaps it has to be done now or you can’t move the sh!t out of the passage or you have to scrape it before re roping etc

 

[Chasingthedream]

All have their pluses and minus’

I’d say it depends on your financial position. One sucker won’t cover 100 cows so you’ll need 2 so that’s 38k.
1500 litres a month for 5 years

Ropes would be 15k
625 litres for 5 years

We have ropes and robot. Wouldn’t want to go back to tractor scraped but it does come at a significant cost and it’s hurting right now.

out of choice I’d go robots though purely because you can lift them out of the way if somethings gone wrong and deal with it later. If the rope snaps it has to be done now or you can’t move the sh!t out of the passage or you have to scrape it before re roping etc

We have been told by both robotics providers that one collector would suffice, and we would hopefully be able to access some grant funding on them. We run auto scrapers everywhere else but they do seem to break down a lot. Hence why I thought that the move to rope scrapers away from hydraulic track scrapers might work.

 

[Chasingthedream]

Collectors get lost
Rope scrapers can (& do) break legs
Would need a human every day

Would you expect a collector to get lost in a simple feed on one side two passageway shed with 3 crossovers?

 

[Wesley]

Collectors get lost

Only time ours seems to get lost is when the tyres are knackered or not calibrated properly. Ultrasound can cause minor issues but only if they’re completely covered. But thats like saying it wasn’t your fault you crashed the scraper tractor because the windows were completely covered in sh!t & you couldn’t see out.

One sucker won’t cover 100 cows so you’ll need 2 so that’s 38k.

Probably on the limit for one on completely solid floors. But two would be overkill unless you were looking to extend in the very near future. Probably better to put some of the money towards a slurry channel/slats both ends, or half way along if its a long shed (or possibly cross overs) so it can dump as its working. That would increase its working time.

 

[Bald Rick]

Only time ours seems to get lost is when the tyres are knackered or not calibrated properly. Ultrasound can cause minor issues but only if they’re completely covered. But thats like saying it wasn’t your fault you crashed the scraper tractor because the windows were completely covered in sh!t & you couldn’t see out.

Probably on the limit for one on completely solid floors. But two would be overkill unless you were looking to extend in the very near future. Probably better to put some of the money towards a slurry channel/slats both ends, or half way along if its a long shed (or possibly cross overs) so it can dump as its working. That would increase its working time.

TBF we don't run collectors but have x3 discoveries and there is usually one crashed somewhere on any given day.
Common causes are cows being obstinate so thinks its blocked, sensor getting slurry on it so cannot ultrasound, rubber strip wear so catches in slat, wheels wearing down so skids on turns, dung too strong so goes to "thermal timeout" and crap on the charge strip so it runs passed the charger and crashes.
Great when everything is on song though

 

[Chasingthedream]

Collectors get lost
Rope scrapers can (& do) break legs
Would need a human every

Only time ours seems to get lost is when the tyres are knackered or not calibrated properly. Ultrasound can cause minor issues but only if they’re completely covered. But thats like saying it wasn’t your fault you crashed the scraper tractor because the windows were completely covered in sh!t & you couldn’t see out.

Probably on the limit for one on completely solid floors. But two would be overkill unless you were looking to extend in the very near future. Probably better to put some of the money towards a slurry channel/slats both ends, or half way along if its a long shed (or possibly cross overs) so it can dump as its working. That would increase its working time.

The shed has channels at one end and in the middle (creating two scrape lengths of 100ft)

 

[Chasingthedream]

I am just struggling to justify in my head the extra £20k (from our quotes) for the cows to perhaps be slightly cleaner…

 

[happycows]

We built 150 cow shed last year. three passage ways and slurry channel in the middle.
It was designed to be able to fit any of the options you mentioned.
We previously used skid steer and box scraper. It takes 10 minutes while someone else cleans the beds then we both start milking at the same time. Works really well and i don't think i'd change.
We are on sand as well so as much as i get through scraper rubbers on the push side fairly frequently its bearable.

 

[Tasteless]

If you milk and sheds pty id go tractor scrape.
If you've got ample slatted crossovers to prevent the sh!t tidle wave id go rope scrapers everyday.
If you're fully robotic and want the least amount of cow flow disturbance I'd go for a poover.
One thing to note is that sh!t wave can really get and keep digi in your herd.

 

[Chasingthedream]

We built 150 cow shed last year. three passage ways and slurry channel in the middle.
It was designed to be able to fit any of the options you mentioned.
We previously used skid steer and box scraper. It takes 10 minutes while someone else cleans the beds then we both start milking at the same time. Works really well and i don't think i'd change.
We are on sand as well so as much as i get through scraper rubbers on the push side fairly frequently its bearable.

Whilst I can’t help but agree with your logic (we already have a 1.2t compact telehandler and box scraper) I also think that with auto scrapers cleaning the shed 6 times a day and a bot doing the busy bits up to 8 times a day there must be a benefit to be had there from cleaner cows less muck etc, just hard to quantify…

 

[Chasingthedream]

If you milk and sheds pty id go tractor scrape.
If you've got ample slatted crossovers to prevent the sh!t tidle wave id go rope scrapers everyday.
If you're fully robotic and want the least amount of cow flow disturbance I'd go for a poover.
One thing to note is that sh!t wave can really get and keep digi in your herd.

The shed will be empty whilst we milk. Just worry about how clean the cows would be if only scraped twice a day.

 

[In the pit]

The shed will be empty whilst we milk. Just worry about how clean the cows would be if only scraped twice a day.

If you’re beds are clean your cows will be were it matters on the udders

 

[Headless chicken]

We have been told by both robotics providers that one collector would suffice, and we would hopefully be able to access some grant funding on them. We run auto scrapers everywhere else but they do seem to break down a lot. Hence why I thought that the move to rope scrapers away from hydraulic track scrapers might work.

Think you’d be at your limit but valid. I’d have rope over hydraulic any day just be aware/ have a back plan for when the rope brakes. I’m largely on my own with relief milkers or dad called in to help so the window of cows being out of the shed is small so we need to fix it quick which puts pressure on. I wouldn’t be without my robot scraper and when funds allow would buy another to replace rope scrapers.

 

[BuskhillFarm]

Is your brother happy spending an hour scraping out with a tractor every day for the next 40years. Go with the ole fellas idea, the grumpy ole gits are usually always right (not that you’d tell him that) I’m sure he’s scraped enough to know the correct answer

 

[deleted user 837354]

Rope scrapers are good. Rope is easy to fix if busted. If one breaks you can scrape out with a tractor and scraper no sweat. Or just cut the other end of the rope and drag it out of the way temporarily. It's just an electric motor on a timer switch. Pretty simple in reality and not much to go wrong. My buddy has had them in his shed for 3 passages for over 10 years no real big deal.

I suspect if you changed the ropes when the shed is empty in summer they would go a winter without breaking.

Better to have channels for the slurry each end though as one-way systems end up with an area they can't scrape meaning shovel is required.

 

[Chasingthedream]

If you’re beds are clean your cows will be were it matters on the udders

Our beds are cleaned, sawdusted and limed twice a day. Surely the amount of muck at the back of the heel stone/ in the passageway will have an effect on cow cleanliness

 

[Chasingthedream]

Is your brother happy spending an hour scraping out with a tractor every day for the next 40years. Go with the ole fellas idea, the grumpy ole gits are usually always right (not that you’d tell him that) I’m sure he’s scraped enough to know the correct answer

The irony is the answer to the first question is probably yes

 

[Chasingthedream]

Rope scrapers are good. Rope is easy to fix if busted. If one breaks you can scrape out with a tractor and scraper no sweat. Or just cut the other end of the rope and drag it out of the way temporarily. It's just an electric motor on a timer switch. Pretty simple in reality and not much to go wrong. My buddy has had them in his shed for 3 passages for over 10 years no real big deal.

I suspect if you changed the ropes when the shed is empty in summer they would go a winter without breaking.

Better to have channels for the slurry each end though as one-way systems end up with an area they can't scrape meaning shovel is required.

Don’t seem to be hearing much bad press about rope scrapers.

we would have liked channels at the far end aswell as in the middle but practically it would have been difficult as the channels tie in to an existing run