Used Robots

[Demolition Man]

Contemplating a 65 cow unit as a spinoff to a larger conventional milking platform. Just visited a farm running two robots on a grass platform and was very impressed by the set up, run by a very knowledgable young lady, who very kindly and patiently answered our novice questions. Soooo.... been looking at secondhand units both A3 and A4’s. My thinking is buy a double unit (seen some reasonable prices over in the Netherlands). I know we only need one, but as they are still half the price of a single new robot, if one breaks down the other can take over until either me or a technician can get it going again. This is a completely new site so shed to be built to suit setup. My main concerns are 1. Would Lely technicians provide setup service if I bought my own secondhand 2. Are there independent people out there who provide a startup service to assist milkings on this system for say the first two weeks or similar?

 

[Chips]

Service cost will hurt a bit running two robots for 65 cows as Lely no longer charge per milking just flat rate per robot.
A3 will be more reliable than A4.

 

[yin ewe]

Can't really see the point in buying 2 if you have a parlour as part of your conventional setup. If the robot breaks down you can milk them in the parlour for a time until you get it fixed. Having said that it's a pretty rare occasion for our robot to be out of action for more than a couple of hours, even at a service.

 

[Demolition Man]

Sorry I should have been clearer, the Robot would be on another farm as the conventional unit would be maxed out grazing wise.

 

[Demolition Man]

So a decent used A3 would be the best bet?

 

[Bald Rick]

Contemplating a 65 cow unit as a spinoff to a larger conventional milking platform. Just visited a farm running two robots on a grass platform and was very impressed by the set up, run by a very knowledgable young lady, who very kindly and patiently answered our novice questions. Soooo.... been looking at secondhand units both A3 and A4’s. My thinking is buy a double unit (seen some reasonable prices over in the Netherlands). I know we only need one, but as they are still half the price of a single new robot, if one breaks down the other can take over until either me or a technician can get it going again. This is a completely new site so shed to be built to suit setup. My main concerns are 1. Would Lely technicians provide setup service if I bought my own secondhand 2. Are there independent people out there who provide a startup service to assist milkings on this system for say the first two weeks or similar?

Lely will back you up for a price.
Yes, there are independents .......... Andy (cant remember his last name) for one who took our robots out could baby sit you.

 

[Nearly]

Tim Gibson sells a few used Lely robots.

 

[pappuller]

Decent A3 next that's been well cared for and preferably been on a Lely master contract. One available not too far from here in a month or so, no point buying 2 if only 50 coos milking but make provision for a 2nd at a later date.
A4s very good but the milk bladder pump is a big letdown.
As said buy a well maintained unit whatever you go for, a poorly maintained bot can be a very expensive bot

 

[Demolition Man]

Anybody know or have contact details for the Andy chap referred to by Baldrick?

 

[coomoo]

What extra labour are you taking on for second unit?

 

[pellow]

there are 5 MK2 Merlins on ebay for sale, £7500 each

 

[Demolition Man]

I woukd be responsibke for the labour on the second unit as I would be there quite a bit with our caravan park anyway. Idea is to House cows over winter in main unit sheds, calve and milk until turnout (hopefully AI'd too) in main unit then move them to grazing robot for rest of lactation. The attraction value of having a robot for our visitors would be a bonus. The farmer in Carry on camping comes to mind...."that'll be a pound" ?

 

[surprisefarmer]

I do not know what you want to spend, or if Lely is all you are considering. If you are flexible to brand, you should contact Dairymaster Northern Ireland, they are in the process of taking out 2 Delaval V300's ( only been going about 6 months) to be replaced with a rotary. I have a V300 that went in a month before these 2, and they are a hell of a machine.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

I think you have the right idea with 2nd hand robots, I think you have the right idea with extra capacity etc in case of break downs etc, I don't know if your reasoning for the robot is the right idea, much better at getting the most out of the cows when they are fresh and much better to manage when cows are housed

 

[Scholsey]

Find a local robot dealer who you ‘click’ with and go from there, second hand Delaval or fullwoods would do the same job as a older Lely with more than likely a cheaper, more flexible service. I know of 2 4 year old m2s for sale if you have a decent local fullwood dealer.

 

[deleted user 837354]

I do not know what you want to spend, or if Lely is all you are considering. If you are flexible to brand, you should contact Dairymaster Northern Ireland, they are in the process of taking out 2 Delaval V300's ( only been going about 6 months) to be replaced with a rotary. I have a V300 that went in a month before these 2, and they are a hell of a machine.

Cripes, someone should snap them up quick!!!

 

[Sid]

Robots milk cows dont get fixated on one brand.

Some brands told me it wasnt doable and want lumps of cash to "buy in" to there brand

 

[Sid]

Cripes, someone should snap them up quick!!!

You dont even know how much they want for them?

I know of a few s/h vms locally for sale

 

[madscientist]

I woukd be responsibke for the labour on the second unit as I would be there quite a bit with our caravan park anyway. Idea is to House cows over winter in main unit sheds, calve and milk until turnout (hopefully AI'd too) in main unit then move them to grazing robot for rest of lactation. The attraction value of having a robot for our visitors would be a bonus. The farmer in Carry on camping comes to mind...."that'll be a pound" ?

Grazing robot? How does that work. Need round cows up couple times a day or do they head in generally themselves?

 

[Sid]

Grazing robot? How does that work. Need round cows up couple times a day or do they head in generally themselves?

Head in themselves.
8 hr paddocks
2 delaval vms
80 cows
Job a good un 4 years in

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