Buying a bulk milk tank

cathalmac

Hi All,

Currently trying to buy a bigger bulk tank. The various sales reps have me all confused. Any opinions on what the best brand is?

Going the direct expansion route..

germanicus

currently have a packo REM DX. its about 5 years old now and we havn't had any trouble.

st1979

I got a darikool with the flooded evaporator system and have been happy with it very fast cooling and reckon cheaper to run than my old ice bank. Was also biggest by far i could fit in dairy as its much shorter and taller than other makes. And basic controls which should be cheaper to fix if do go wrong. Was also cheapest tank at the time

whelan1

are there any grants for the purchase of a tank ?

germanicus

not any longer unless i'm very mistaken

cathalmac

Yeah unfortunately there is no grant available at the moment.

Prices of new ones are pretty steep. We currently have a Packo tank that has served us well.

I'm thinking about going with a second Meuller tank with a high performance compressor. Anyone currently using one?

Dari Kool could also be an option

rooney32

anybody know where you could get an old milk tank (approx 600 -1000 gal) for storing water

germanicus

would you not be better with a plastic one?

zoostorm

Dari cool are a good tank, but if you are in Laois Offaly don't let them get the local lad to install it, insist on the charleville lads, had a supplier buy one on my run, put in on a friday and not connected to electricity til tuesday and not connected to water for washing until 7 days after tank was first installed. Be very fussy about who puts it in, and make sure it has a good fall from back to front. Some tanks take ages for the last few gallons to come out. Ask the milk man which type of fitting suits him the best before you buy, he/she will appreciate the gesture.

red bull

I dont know if Killkenny cooling are still in business but i have one of their tanks since 1982 600gal ice bank only had one breakdown that was five years ago. Still runs on old gas, have my fingers crossed ! It may be a record check them out:D

Humpty Dumpty

In the industry I am in I have been dealing with farmers for five years. I have seen all types of bulk tanks. There is huge difference between the quality of bulk tanks. The mueller tank looks stucturally a good bit stronger. The farmers tell me that they are extremely happy with the efficency of the tanks. In my view there is no comparison. The technology is just 2 steps above all of them

irishh_bob

Humpty Dumpty wrote: »

In the industry I am in I have been dealing with farmers for five years. I have seen all types of bulk tanks. There is huge difference between the quality of bulk tanks. The mueller tank looks stucturally a good bit stronger. The farmers tell me that they are extremely happy with the efficency of the tanks. In my view there is no comparison. The technology is just 2 steps above all of them

whats your opinion on liscarroll tanks

Humpty Dumpty

If you are after an efficient tank and a far superior tank than go the money on the Mueller. I know that Kingstons of west cork sell them. They go by the name of Kingston refrigeration

cathalmac

Went with the Mueller option in the end. As previously mentioned it might not be the cheapest tank on the list but when I researched everything I think it was the best option.

culchie83

bought a dai kool recently. was in two minds between dari kool and mueller as tehy seem to be the two market leaders. went with dari kool in the end as they have a flooded system that uses a twin fan. Mueller only had a single fan compressor. Also Dari kool back up service seemed much better than what Mueller were offering.

Cooling on Dari Kool is very fast. Charleville Refrigeration lads installed it.

leoch

does anybody have an old bulk tank for sale they would be a great job for holding meal, vermin proff and dry and tidy missed one in cavan direction,further north would be handier

whelan1

leoch wrote: »

does anybody have an old bulk tank for sale they would be a great job for holding meal, vermin proff and dry and tidy missed one in cavan direction,further north would be handier

get the local trader , there is normally some in it .. what size you looking for ? i will keep an eye out , should be plenty around;)

leoch

one that holds a ton or two thanks whelin

aristo

red bull wrote: »

I dont know if Killkenny cooling are still in business but i have one of their tanks since 1982 600gal ice bank only had one breakdown that was five years ago. Still runs on old gas, have my fingers crossed ! It may be a record check them out

The man who serviced the milking machine said there is a tank in rockwell 34 years untouched!

We have a kilkenny tank that is about 15 years old which never gave any trouble and has the old gas, Its for sale now but everyone almost puts down the phone when they hear old gas, has anyone converted a tank to new type gas? any problems or issues with it?
Im thinking of converting it just to get it sold even though it doesnt need converting!

5live

New grantscheme due to be announced in the next few weeks. Up to 10k on tanks so i heard today

John_F

was it jackie heealy rae told ya that one 5live hopefully therl be something come out, scheme was announced in 2010 as far as i can remember, good timing before an election prehaps??

5live

John_F wrote: »

was it jackie heealy rae told ya that one 5live hopefully therl be something come out, scheme was announced in 2010 as far as i can remember, good timing before an election prehaps??

Jackie is a GOD i tells ya:D but only in south kerry. Too far north here. There was a small piece on it in the journal. It will be announced on the same day the DEP is paid ie 2 weeks pre election:rolleyes:

Pacoa

I saw a piece in the farmers journal today about it and said it was 40k for milking equipment and up to 25k for cooling equipment.

stanflt

i run 2 5000litre packo ice bank. one is connected to a new 2stage milk plate cooler. milk goes into tank at 2.5*-3.5*. its reduced my esb bill dramatically

both tanks were second hand 5-6k each:)

dar31

stanflt wrote: »

i run 2 5000litre packo ice bank. one is connected to a new 2stage milk plate cooler. milk goes into tank at 2.5*-3.5*. its reduced my esb bill dramatically

both tanks were second hand 5-6k each:)

how much did it cost to get the tanks hooked up. did you have to get new gas or were tanks disconnected in such a way to save old gas.

just wondering on full costs of second hand tanks, as im a bit short on space for 2 -3 months of the year and looking for a cheap solution.

stanflt

dar31 wrote: »

how much did it cost to get the tanks hooked up. did you have to get new gas or were tanks disconnected in such a way to save old gas.

just wondering on full costs of second hand tanks, as im a bit short on space for 2 -3 months of the year and looking for a cheap solution.

first tank was 5650 installed two years ago with old gas. second only installed last august 5995 installed with new gas. both have 2fans.
cookstown dairy services (dairymaster agents) hook them up foc as i bought a new parlour:)

aristo

stanflt wrote: »

i run 2 5000litre packo ice bank. one is connected to a new 2stage milk plate cooler. milk goes into tank at 2.5*-3.5*. its reduced my esb bill dramatically

both tanks were second hand 5-6k each:)

Its shocking how many dairy farmers dont know about savings with twin stage coolers on night rate electricity and leaves the tank doing minimal work.

C0N0R

Pacoa wrote: »

I saw a piece in the farmers journal today about it and said it was 40k for milking equipment and up to 25k for cooling equipment.

This could be very interesting for me, any more details on it?? I'm in nz ATM so can't get the journal myself. What perchantge will the grant be? If you hear anymore on this it would be greatly appreciated if ya post it here ;-)

Thanks
Conor

aidanki

stanflt wrote: »

i run 2 5000litre packo ice bank. one is connected to a new 2stage milk plate cooler. milk goes into tank at 2.5*-3.5*. its reduced my esb bill dramatically

both tanks were second hand 5-6k each:)

any more details here?

Pacoa

This could be very interesting for me, any more details on it?? I'm in nz ATM so can't get the journal myself. What perchantge will the grant be? If you hear anymore on this it would be greatly appreciated if ya post it here ;-)

Thanks
Conor

It's to be announced next week it said. Probably 40% grants but it did say something about qualifing conditions being stricter. Check the indo tuesday here http://www.independent.ie/farming

John_F

C0N0R wrote: »

This could be very interesting for me, any more details on it?? I'm in nz ATM so can't get the journal myself. What perchantge will the grant be? If you hear anymore on this it would be greatly appreciated if ya post it here ;-)

Thanks
Conor

http://www.farmersjournal.ie/site/farming.php?newsid=12330

what size farm ya working on? Canterbury?

C0N0R

John_F wrote: »

http://www.farmersjournal.ie/site/farming.php?newsid=12330

what size farm ya working on? Canterbury?

How'd u know Canterbury?! Workin on a 1050 cow farm through a 60 bail rotary. Milking off 197 hectares roughly. It's an interesting experience, seeing things from a different perspective. I'm just around the corner from Alistair rayne's farm that was featured in the journal in November.

John_F

C0N0R wrote: »

How'd u know Canterbury?! Workin on a 1050 cow farm through a 60 bail rotary. Milking off 197 hectares roughly. It's an interesting experience, seeing things from a different perspective. I'm just around the corner from Alistair rayne's farm that was featured in the journal in November.

era i just do :rolleyes:, was out there working a few years back, oh up around dunsandel so?? well worth it!



just for anyone buying a tanks, the eu is banning R22 gas, was meant to happen at end of 2010 but ifa got a derogation until 2014. anyone have an opinion on ice bank v direct expansion v flooded evaporator

C0N0R

Dunsandel is about 10 mins away, darfield is me closest town I guess. Where about were you? What size farm? There seem to be a right few lads out here from Ireland.

From reading that bit in the journal online it seems to be grants on investments of up to €40000 on tanks and up to €25000 on milking equipment. So I assume it will be 40% of 25000 for the milking equipment.

Anyone any idea what it would cost to upgrade a 6 bail herring bone to 9 bails and install automatic cup removers etc? The parlour is long enough, just don't have the equipment installed.

whelan1

dont think you would need cluster removers in a 9 unit parlour , ours is a 15 unit and we have them . seriously thinking of taking them out

C0N0R

whelan1 wrote: »

dont think you would need cluster removers in a 9 unit parlour , ours is a 15 unit and we have them . seriously thinking of taking them out

Do you just find them a hassle or what whelan?? Your right though, not needed, just if I was updating it I would like to get it as modern as possible, try future proof it to sone extent!! Anyone have any rough prices? Also what sort of numbers could you milk through a nine a side? Was talking to a lad from tegasc and he was recommending no more than eight runs so 72 cows. But this was more from a labour point of view I think.

whelan1

when i was in england we milked 360 cows through an 8 unit double up ... was pure hardship

aristo

whelan1 wrote: »

dont think you would need cluster removers in a 9 unit parlour , ours is a 15 unit and we have them . seriously thinking of taking them out

Why? mastitis problems?
very handy for feeding calves, not rushing back in, cell count dropped back a bit after they went in too.

whelan1

cell count problem... they are staying on the cow too long... also we only have them in 7 years and alot of the parts need replacing in them....

aristo

What make?

whelan1

westfailia

5live

C0N0R wrote: »

Also what sort of numbers could you milk through a nine a side? Was talking to a lad from tegasc and he was recommending no more than eight runs so 72 cows. But this was more from a labour point of view I think.

I reckon you can go to 10 rounds so about 90 cows but i would think about 7 to 8 rounds of cows to minimise both time in the pit and investment needed. Too many rounds just crack me up but needs must.....

John_F

C0N0R wrote: »

Dunsandel is about 10 mins away, darfield is me closest town I guess. Where about were you? What size farm? There seem to be a right few lads out here from Ireland.

From reading that bit in the journal online it seems to be grants on investments of up to €40000 on tanks and up to €25000 on milking equipment. So I assume it will be 40% of 25000 for the milking equipment.

Anyone any idea what it would cost to upgrade a 6 bail herring bone to 9 bails and install automatic cup removers etc? The parlour is long enough, just don't have the equipment installed.

down around rakia / ashburton 550 cows 54 bail no acr's or protrack but it was a dream! ya know a good share of lads gone out, better off experience it and make what you want of it than listen to sh1t from teagasc here.

ya i read that too the word 'respectably' not quite appropriate i think, prob meant to be other way around, wait for official conformation i bose.

depends, if you have jars and are changing you may be able to trade these in, acr's cost ~€8-900 per unit as far as i know, less if your putting in a new parlour.

@whelan, can the time not be changed between vac shut off and the cord pulling

whelan1

yes , my milking machine repair man who put them in has been asked many many times to sort them out , one or two of them would stay on the cow all day if they where let

C0N0R

John_F wrote: »

down around rakia / ashburton 550 cows 54 bail no acr's or protrack but it was a dream! ya know a good share of lads gone out, better off experience it and make what you want of it than listen to sh1t from teagasc here.

ya i read that too the word 'respectably' not quite appropriate i think, prob meant to be other way around, wait for official conformation i bose.

depends, if you have jars and are changing you may be able to trade these in, acr's cost ~€8-900 per unit as far as i know, less if your putting in a new parlour.

@whelan, can the time not be changed between vac shut off and the cord pulling

That does sound like a dream! So when we have the first herd milked you guys would have been finished! We have no acr or pro track either. This time of year it's handy work, basically milk in the morning 4:45 till 8:15 come back 9:30 do whatever has to be done, finish by eleven at latest then milk from 13:45 till 16:15. During ab it's a bitch tho, 120 cows to be inseminated takes a while!

In the current parlour we have jars yes. Would you be better off selling the equipment you have and putting in a completly new system instead of trying to marry old and new?? Suppose it depends in cost at the end of the day. I was thinking auto cup removers from the feeding calves point of view to and just if you have to run from the parlour in an emergency

stanflt

whelan1 wrote: »

yes , my milking machine repair man who put them in has been asked many many times to sort them out , one or two of them would stay on the cow all day if they where let

l put in a ten unit daitymaster machine last summer. acrs, swing arms, cluster cleanse, auto id, 2stage industrial plate cooler. milking 100 at the min but up 2 140 when we go back out to grass-not enough cubicles. wouldnt dream of getting rid of the acrs.well worth the money even in a small parlour. cows averaging 1800 and 40% of herd is first calvers

acr worth ever penny if you buy the proper machine. (dairymaster)

C0N0R

stanflt wrote: »

l put in a ten unit daitymaster machine last summer. acrs, swing arms, cluster cleanse, auto id, 2stage industrial plate cooler. milking 100 at the min but up 2 140 when we go back out to grass-not enough cubicles. wouldnt dream of getting rid of the acrs.well worth the money even in a small parlour. cows averaging 1800 and 40% of herd is first calvers

acr worth ever penny if you buy the proper machine. (dairymaster)

What price did your system cost if you don't mind me asking?? What's the auto-I'd for? And the swinging arm?? I assume the cluster clense disenfects the clusters after each cow?? Did you build an intirely new parlour??

stanflt

C0N0R wrote: »

What price did your system cost if you don't mind me asking?? What's the auto-I'd for? And the swinging arm?? I assume the cluster clense disenfects the clusters after each cow?? Did you build an intirely new parlour??

80k but got the vat back. that was just for the equipment. had an old 6unit delaval and could only fit in 10units. couldnt justify new shed too expensive. auto id is where it recognises the cow as she enters the stall. feeds her the required amount to yield. the computer also tells you through speakers if the cow is on antibiotics or colostrum etc. it also tells you if she has a depressed yield-very handy for spotting heats or early signs of sickness. swing arms are space savers that the cluster hangs out of. when you swing them over to put a unit on it will feed the cow. cluster cleanse cleans and disinfects unit after every cow

aidanki

stanflt wrote: »

l put in a ten unit daitymaster machine last summer. acrs, swing arms, cluster cleanse, auto id, 2stage industrial plate cooler. milking 100 at the min but up 2 140 when we go back out to grass-not enough cubicles. wouldnt dream of getting rid of the acrs.well worth the money even in a small parlour. cows averaging 1800 and 40% of herd is first calvers

acr worth ever penny if you buy the proper machine. (dairymaster)

+1 here acrs are worth every penny, have them 5-6yrs now, can't ever say a cow fooled them

makes life real easy in the spring when alone, no worries about over milking

C0N0R

stanflt wrote: »

80k but got the vat back. that was just for the equipment. had an old 6unit delaval and could only fit in 10units. couldnt justify new shed too expensive. auto id is where it recognises the cow as she enters the stall. feeds her the required amount to yield. the computer also tells you through speakers if the cow is on antibiotics or colostrum etc. it also tells you if she has a depressed yield-very handy for spotting heats or early signs of sickness. swing arms are space savers that the cluster hangs out of. when you swing them over to put a unit on it will feed the cow. cluster cleanse cleans and disinfects unit after every cow

Did you manage to sell off your old equipment or is that included in the 80k? I assume the stalls and everything are new then to? That's what I'm hoping to do in the next few years when I get home,would like to put in the best system I can so as to get as long a lifetime out of it as possible. Just dependent on banks and milk prices I guess

refco

just for anyone buying a tanks, the eu is banning R22 gas, was meant to happen at end of 2010 but ifa got a derogation until 2014. anyone have an opinion on ice bank v direct expansion v flooded evaporator [/QUOTE]

The ban on R22 is upon us more or less it is still been sold but at outragous prices and can only be got as reclaimed and cleaned gas im in the refrigeration trade and it is getting harder to get the stuff but on the other hand i was at a tank recently which was running on the older R12 gas which was more or less gone off the market before i was fully trained in the trade the tank and compressor was running the same equipment since 1976 never a problem till this summer.So i was told aside that it ran for up to 19 hours a day on an icebank at a cost of 94 cents per hour that would add up on the esb fairly quick i changed out the equipment for new system on 404 gas and it runs on the icebank tank for about 4 hours in total per day at 48 cents per hour also fitted a plate heat exchager from condenser it heats 300 litres of water from 7 degrees to 40+ per day so helps reduce the emersion running time and bill also