Robot milking 60 cows

Deepsouthwest

Farmer Ed wrote: »

Maybe? But I wouldn't be bosting too much about it on here. Their rare enough yet around these parts yet. Let's say I do have a fair bit of experience with them yes. First year is the hardest and maintenance cost are a bit higher than a basic milking parlour. But alarm calls seem to be getting fewer and farther between as both farmer and the robot manufacturer learn to iron out avoidable problems.

That's a no so!

Dawggone

Farmer Ed wrote: »

Maybe? But I wouldn't be bosting too much about it on here. Their rare enough yet around these parts yet. Let's say I do have a fair bit of experience with them yes. First year is the hardest and maintenance cost are a bit higher than a basic milking parlour. But alarm calls seem to be getting fewer and farther between as both farmer and the robot manufacturer learn to iron out avoidable problems.

Had the Dept. here this am to inspect milking parlor. It's free, they send out a technician and test the milking machine, if there are any probs you have to repair them yourself. Anyhow we got talking on robots which is his main sphere of expertise and he said that scc in robots is very hard to control. This is also the experience of neighbors with robots.

Farmer Ed

Dawggone wrote: »

Talking to an uncle of mine over the Xmas and he was thinking the same. He reckons that it's a hangover from the tiger years...everyone wanted a new house but it had to be turnkey...move in and cut the lawn!

I do think it's not a bad thing to have a bit of ambition. Without it no one would ever achieve anything., but your uncle has a point. I know of at least two new entrants who got no milk cheque this year in July. Maybe intelligent young people may be better off using their talents somewhere that would give them a better return.

Did you hear the one about the farmer who won the lotto? When asked what he would do with the money, he replied.

"Era I think I'll stay farming away until i'll have it all spent."

alps

Farmer Ed wrote: »

Maybe? But I wouldn't be bosting too much about it on here. Their rare enough yet around these parts yet. Let's say I do have a fair bit of experience with them yes. First year is the hardest and maintenance cost are a bit higher than a basic milking parlour. But alarm calls seem to be getting fewer and farther between as both farmer and the robot manufacturer learn to iron out avoidable problems.

Good man Ed....We learn something new every day....

That's how you have all that time on your hands to be posting. . .Good ad for robots..

farmerman

alps wrote: »

Your profitability figures are correct and are underestimated for a good efficient operation. However straight off, the system you propose will set you back up to 6,000 per cow to initiate, and that won't be viable.

I would believe that you will need to give commitment time and effort to your job to make the very best of it, to get results for yourself and for your employers. Tipping off to look after small issues at home just won't cut it with most employers, especially in a sales environment. You will need to be consistent with your time and effort and cannot be sure of that with a robot.

It's obvious that you have a serious interest in milking cows, and I'm sure there are many ways that you can achieve that. Have you given any thought to a full time career in Dairy farming? Your interest and educational background would give you a distinct advantage over most. Your home Farm could be a back up to a rented platform with existing facilities. Are you really interested in a job?

So you would reckon that the robot would simple be to high of an investment to make it viable?? I do however plan to commit fully to a job for a few years as you suggest as I need to build my experience and also see can I carve out a job which could suit my system. I also want to see how dairy plays out over the next couple to see if the likes of this venture would be plausible.
I wouldn't have given much thought to full time farming given the fact that I simply don't have the land at this moment and I'd question hugely whether it'd pay to go out and buy a farm given the potential cost. You wou do suggest though possibly renting a dairy farm?? They'd require large scale to make them viable with the cost of renting the farm??
In regards the job I don't suspect that I wouldn't be content if I was in the correct job I just know that if I was to have a dairy farm that I would make a very good go of it given my interest and attention to detail. I always saw myself as having a job and I know very much what is involved as my da is an ag aswell so being in that game always appealed to me along with the farming. I certainly plan whether i go into milk not to run a very efficient and profitable farm at home.

Farmer Ed

Dawggone wrote: »

Had the Dept. here this am to inspect milking parlor. It's free, they send out a technician and test the milking machine, if there are any probs you have to repair them yourself. Anyhow we got talking on robots which is his main sphere of expertise and he said that scc in robots is very hard to control. This is also the experience of neighbors with robots.

Am I right in saying your in France? Did he say it varies from one make of robot to another? I know some of the newer robots have to ability to test for scc on every milking. I only have experience with ones that test conductivity. I can't say it has been a huge issue. I know Lely would claim a big reduction in a lot of cases.I have heard it is common to get a rise when you change over the system, but I understand that's not uncommon even if you change an existing parlor.

Farmer Ed

alps wrote: »

Good man Ed....We learn something new every day....

That's how you have all that time on your hands to be posting. . .Good ad for robots..

You say that as if you were working for the special branch and had just cracked a case.

Dont get too carried away. Innocent until proven guilty and all that. Trial before a jury, before I could be executed and all that sort of thing.. You wouldn't want to going saying anything to prejudice the case now would you .

PS. Farmerman "I love the idea of robots but they're just not for me at the moment" Can very often be code for. I'm up my ears in debt and the bank won't give me any more money. I think you sound like you are taking a wise approach in doing your homework first.

Farmer Ed

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

That's a no so!

It's a maybe.Wouldn't you love to know?:) I think there are rules here about posting one's identity? I remember when there was only 2 farmers with robots in Co Cork.

keep going

striping out milking,how many hours work per day does it take to run 60 cows at 3.7lu/hec and rear heifers on an out farm.have you worked on a dairy farm.if i was you i d look for a job on a dairy farm first,you ll figure out alot and it will do harm on your cv if you are looking for a job in ag related business

farmerman

keep going wrote: »

striping out milking,how many hours work per day does it take to run 60 cows at 3.7lu/hec and rear heifers on an out farm.have you worked on a dairy farm.if i was you i d look for a job on a dairy farm first,you ll figure out alot and it will do harm on your cv if you are looking for a job in ag related business

I have worked on several dairy farms since I was younger so I would have a relatively good idea of what is involved in running a dairy farm.

keep going

Farmer Ed wrote: »

It's a maybe.Wouldn't you love to know?:) I think there are rules here about posting one's identity? I remember when there was only 2 farmers with robots in Co Cork.

theres more than a touch of a gerry adams about you.alot of us have figured out who is who so i wouldnt panic over it especially the local ones

Farmer Ed

keep going wrote: »

theres more than a touch of a gerry adams about you.alot of us have figured out who is who so i wouldnt panic over it especially the local ones

If you think there's a touch of Jerry Adams about me you obviously don't know me that well. I don't even have a beard. And no unlike Jerry, hand on heart I've never been in the IRA,but to my shame I have been to a few IFA meetings.

Can I add Farmerman if you do decide to take the plunge. Be sure and shop around for the milk purchaser that offers you the best deal. The milk price, the amount of shares you will have to buy, the length of contract, the compulsion to have to buy your inputs and the level of borrowing that the milk purchaser has should all be taken in to account. Don't be fooled. once you sign that contract the milk purchasers debt also becomes your debt.

kowtow

Bass Reeves wrote:

Not necessiarly. 70 cows is calculated to be the most efficient for a single labour unit above that you have to allow for external labour

"Dairy farms more efficient with unpaid labour"

Now there's a shocking revelation!

kowtow

farmerman wrote:

So you would reckon that the robot would simple be to high of an investment to make it viable?? I do however plan to commit fully to a job for a few years as you suggest as I need to build my experience and also see can I carve out a job which could suit my system.

have you considered training as a robot servicer?

Farmer Ed

kowtow wrote: »

have you considered training as a robot servicer?

Thats a very hard job. On night calls and all that. It's like being a vet

Sam Kade

Farmer Ed wrote: »

Thats a very hard job. On night calls and all that. It's like being a vet

If you could get paid same as a vet out of hours how bad.

Miname

Have you considered heading off for a year or two? Chase a bit of skirt and getting so unbelievably hammered that you won't even know what country your in. You seem like a right lad that's got his head screwed on but go out have a look around and cause a bit of trouble then see if milking is what you really want. You've a decent degree find your feet first. I've seen lads that didn't even use theirs and went completely in an opposite direction and done very well for themselves. It's very easy to get over committed when your younger.

farmerman

kowtow wrote: »

have you considered training as a robot servicer?

I hadn't actually though of that. I'd be more looking for a job along advisory lines more so than as a robot servicer, but as far as I know there would be advisors working for lely as well which could be a job which would interest me. I'll certainly look into it

Bass Reeves

Some on here are advising to wait and see what way milk prices and the general dairy trade goes. However troughs are much more vioable to enter an industry rather than peaks. At present with poor milk prices and a poor outlook waht would one pay to put in place a mixed herd of 50 cows and heifers. Would 50K do the job. In a peak this investment could raise to 100K wioth less of a selection available. Would you put a robot in place for 20% less than at peak milk prices.

We already see it in land prices where they are back 20% from 2014 prices. The other advantage of buying in a trough is that you get the full advantage of the following peak. A 50 cow herd milking 6K [EMAIL="litres@ 37c/L"]litres @ 37c/L[/EMAIL] will turn over 110K euro in a year during a peak cycle in milk sales. Averaged over 5 years at 32c/L gives a turnover in milksales of 96K/Year.

C0N0R

Miname wrote: »

Have you considered heading off for a year or two? Chase a bit of skirt and getting so unbelievably hammered that you won't even know what country your in. You seem like a right lad that's got his head screwed on but go out have a look around and cause a bit of trouble then see if milking is what you really want. You've a decent degree find your feet first. I've seen lads that didn't even use theirs and went completely in an opposite direction and done very well for themselves. It's very easy to get over committed when your younger.

Agreed, I enjoyed it that much I'm considering doing it again!!! And I'm nearly 30 😆

C0N0R

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Some on here are advising to wait and see what way milk prices and the general dairy trade goes. However troughs are much more vioable to enter an industry rather than peaks. At present with poor milk prices and a poor outlook waht would one pay to put in place a mixed herd of 50 cows and heifers. Would 50K do the job. In a peak this investment could raise to 100K wioth less of a selection available. Would you put a robot in place for 20% less than at peak milk prices.

We already see it in land prices where they are back 20% from 2014 prices. The other advantage of buying in a trough is that you get the full advantage of the following peak. A 50 cow herd milking 6K [EMAIL="litres@ 37c/L"]litres @ 37c/L[/EMAIL] will turn over 110K euro in a year during a peak cycle in milk sales. Averaged over 5 years at 32c/L gives a turnover in milksales of 96K/Year.

Turnover and profit two different things!

visatorro

is there many robots up around monaghan conor? rep once told me there was.

Markcheese

You'll be starting with a lot less than 60 and working your way up to that .... but your cost for the robot is pretty much fi,xed from day 1 , (and you're kind of stuck on 60 no matter how much land comes up next door unless you shell out for a second robot - plus putting up a cubicle house -all expensive as will be paddocks-roads water and cows ....
If you could find some other mug to put it under grass and pay you 300 an acre until they go bust you'd be a lot better off. And you'd get to keep more of it tax wise too . Might be an over cynical view though..

Sam Kade

Markcheese wrote: »

You'll be starting with a lot less than 60 and working your way up to that .... but your cost for the robot is pretty much fi,xed from day 1 , (and you're kind of stuck on 60 no matter how much land comes up next door unless you shell out for a second robot - plus putting up a cubicle house -all expensive as will be paddocks-roads water and cows ....
If you could find some other mug to put it under grass and pay you 300 an acre until they go bust you'd be a lot better off. And you'd get to keep more of it tax wise too . Might be an over cynical view though..

Most profitable idea so far. Then he could start small with 20-30 heifers and a 6 unit parlour that can be extended and test the water.

C0N0R

visatorro wrote: »

is there many robots up around monaghan conor? rep once told me there was.

Within a few miles of me I can think of three farms with robots straight away! So yea there are a fair few, one is a big liquid milk man the other two would be Spring calving I think but certainly on the lower input side of things.

C0N0R

Markcheese wrote: »

You'll be starting with a lot less than 60 and working your way up to that .... but your cost for the robot is pretty much fi,xed from day 1 , (and you're kind of stuck on 60 no matter how much land comes up next door unless you shell out for a second robot - plus putting up a cubicle house -all expensive as will be paddocks-roads water and cows ....
If you could find some other mug to put it under grass and pay you 300 an acre until they go bust you'd be a lot better off. And you'd get to keep more of it tax wise too . Might be an over cynical view though..

And no time invested in it either, it's a tempting proposition!

Farmer Ed

C0N0R wrote: »

And no time invested in it either, it's a tempting proposition!

60 wouldnt really be set in stone. It depends on the milk speed of your cows and also how often you want to milk them. The average cow could take anything from 5 to 7 minutes to milk. But I've seen cows to take only 3 minutes and I've seen a cow to take 20 minutes. Also I know that moorepark were doing trials on just restricting milking to 1.5 milkings per day. The idea was that you could milk 90 cows on a robot. I must say it wouldn't be my cup of tea. But if you had the type of cow to suit that, maybe it could work. I don't know how the trial worked out?

In anycase if you really wanted to go mad you could always get a second robot.The second one is a good bit cheaper than the first as they share a lot of the same components.

C0N0R

Farmer Ed wrote: »

60 wouldnt really be set in stone. It depends on the milk speed of your cows and also how often you want to milk them. The average cow could take anything from 5 to 7 minutes to milk. But I've seen cows to take only 3 minutes and I've seen a cow to take 20 minutes. Also I know that moorepark were doing trials on just restricting milking to 1.5 milkings per day. The idea was that you could milk 90 cows on a robot. I must say it wouldn't be my cup of tea. But if you had the type of cow to suit that, maybe it could work. I don't know how the trial worked out?

In anycase if you really wanted to go mad you could always get a second robot.The second one is a good bit cheaper than the first as they share a lot of the same components.

I was referring more to the lease it to some other mug for 300 tax free statement!

mf240

ganmo wrote: »

haven't you heard, they're 'backing brave'

Ya into a corner:!

liam7831

Id say fellas were expecting milk to be making a lot more than it is at the moment to pay for robot investment. Think most ppl thought it was a sure way to early retirement