Mobile milking parlour

Ragner

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of these, good or bad. I have seen them in France but never milked in one. Thank you.

Buford T. Justice XIX

There were a few around a few years ago by milking machine producers to let lads milk cows while their machine was being installed. A local man here built one but it's in Roscommon last I heard. Getting power to run the machine and coolers was the big problem and they were fairly tight on space for the milker.

alps

Most farmers in the Azores milk in them as they have the climate to stay out and grass growth year round.

Not sure they will conform to bord bia T&C's if it's a long term concept you are thinking of for your farm

Ragner

Im racking my brains to find a more profitable alternative to the cattle. Thinking possible partnership with dairy farmer or lease but would like to have an involvement in the farm. Im in my mid 50s, fit and healthy thank God but dont want to go fully into cows myself. Have a good setup for drystock but I dont want to pour anymore concrete if possible. Was thinking maybe put the mobile unit into the slatted house, tanks, water, power all there. Would need to check if it would comply or what woold be required for dairy health cert, ( is that still there)? Its 10 years since I milked cows. Maybe im mad.

Dakota Dan

Ragner wrote: »

Im racking my brains to find a more profitable alternative to the cattle. Thinking possible partnership with dairy farmer or lease but would like to have an involvement in the farm. Im in my mid 50s, fit and healthy thank God but dont want to go fully into cows myself. Have a good setup for drystock but I dont want to pour anymore concrete if possible. Was thinking maybe put the mobile unit into the slatted house, tanks, water, power all there. Would need to check if it would comply or what woold be required for dairy health cert, ( is that still there)? Its 10 years since I milked cows. Maybe im mad.

I did the same gave up milking early 40’s and went back after 10 years when quotas went. Same age as you now, worst mistake I made, should’ve taken the easy option and stayed out of cows.

dohc turbo2

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

There were a few around a few years ago by milking machine producers to let lads milk cows while their machine was being installed. A local man here built one but it's in Roscommon last I heard. Getting power to run the machine and coolers was the big problem and they were fairly tight on space for the milker.

There was one out abbeydorney direction if I remember , across from Carroll the Teagasc advisor if I remember right

Buford T. Justice XIX

dohc turbo2 wrote: »

There was one out abbeydorney direction if I remember , across from Carroll the Teagasc advisor if I remember right

That's the man alright, top, top operator.

cjpm

You'd be far better off if you did contract rearing, along with doing a few milkings a week. Build a good relationship with some dairy guy. There was a poster here that had a neighbour doing a set number of milkings a week. Suited both nicely.

Ragner

Im open to that too, thanks for all the replys.

148multi

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

There were a few around a few years ago by milking machine producers to let lads milk cows while their machine was being installed. A local man here built one but it's in Roscommon last I heard. Getting power to run the machine and coolers was the big problem and they were fairly tight on space for the milker.

Ya there is one in North roscommon, quarry owner has his farm rented out to a dairy farmer.

Timmaay

If you already have the shed, then I think you'd be nuts not to just put in a pit and small bit of concrete and be done with it. I got in a friend at "mates rates" (which bloody turned out to be 300e/day into his hand ffs!!) to dig out a basic pit, and build the 3 ft pit walls and one 7 ft side wall all in 4 inch solid blocks in their side, plus lay the concrete on the floor, it cost me about 6k all in, which I thought was expensive but it certainly wasn't in comparison to what a proper agriculture concrete lad would of charged me ha.

Markcheese

How long before some one comes up with a mobile, robot machine, the constant power would mean a genny on permanently, and cooling would be an issue,

Ubbquittious

Markcheese wrote: »

How long before some one comes up with a mobile, robot machine, the constant power would mean a genny on permanently, and cooling would be an issue,

You could have a form of sloped treadmill in the base of it. So the cow has to do a certain amount of walking inside in it in order to generate power for the thing.

Dakota Dan

Timmaay wrote: »

If you already have the shed, then I think you'd be nuts not to just put in a pit and small bit of concrete and be done with it. I got in a friend at "mates rates" (which bloody turned out to be 300e/day into his hand ffs!!) to dig out a basic pit, and build the 3 ft pit walls and one 7 ft side wall all in 4 inch solid blocks in their side, plus lay the concrete on the floor, it cost me about 6k all in, which I thought was expensive but it certainly wasn't in comparison to what a proper agriculture concrete lad would of charged me ha.

4” blocks on their side? One tip if a cows arse and that side wall will come crashing down. I converted an old byre into a parkour myself and built a 6’ wide 6’ high wall at the back of the parlour with the blocks on edge sure enough a cow bulling knocked it one evening, I rebuilt it with 6” channel at both ends as piers and it didn’t stir since.

Timmaay

Sorry meant on their flat.

G-Man

Markcheese wrote: »

How long before some one comes up with a mobile, robot machine, the constant power would mean a genny on permanently, and cooling would be an issue,

Some sort of autonomous robot that goes to the cow where she is.

Markcheese

G-Man wrote: »

Some sort of autonomous robot that goes to the cow where she is.

I was thinking more like a lely astronaut or something... mounted on a trailer, hooked up to water and a generator, in the middle of the grazing field, moved 2 or 3 times a day....

Timmaay

I can't see any advantage of a robot that needs to be manually moved 2 or 3 times a day. Surely slap in the middle of say 30ac which would serve say 80 cows for 15 days with the only need to change fencing between your abc paddocks would be alot simpler, and let the cows walk. You'll still need a concrete slab and your drafting setup however. After your 15 days you move on to another 30ac block. All your basically doing here is avoiding the need for cow lanes, and in fairness cow lanes for robots only need to be like 4foot wide.

Panch18

Ragner wrote: »

Im racking my brains to find a more profitable alternative to the cattle. Thinking possible partnership with dairy farmer or lease but would like to have an involvement in the farm. Im in my mid 50s, fit and healthy thank God but dont want to go fully into cows myself. Have a good setup for drystock but I dont want to pour anymore concrete if possible. Was thinking maybe put the mobile unit into the slatted house, tanks, water, power all there. Would need to check if it would comply or what woold be required for dairy health cert, ( is that still there)? Its 10 years since I milked cows. Maybe im mad.

There are easier ways to make money than milk cows, particularly as you get a bit older

As suggested above, contract rearing and do a few milking a week and you would be better off

Say my name

Panch18 wrote: »

There are easier ways to make money than milk cows, particularly as you get a bit older

As suggested above, contract rearing and do a few milking a week and you would be better off

I know someone who is just retired from working fulltime on a farm for someone else.
Their on the old age pension, private pension and are picking and choosing days working with various farmers now.
They said themselves now they never had such a quality of life as they have now.
New car, new small house lately as well.
To me that's the perfect life and still being active for your mind and body.

wrangler

Say my name wrote: »

I know someone who is just retired from working fulltime on a farm for someone else.
Their on the old age pension, private pension and are picking and choosing days working with various farmers now.
They said themselves now they never had such a quality of life as they have now.
New car, new small house lately as well.
To me that's the perfect life and still being active for your mind and body.

Don't know if I'd do farm work again after 50 years of it

Say my name

wrangler wrote: »

Don't know if I'd do farm work again after 50 years of it

Yea... I can't imagine you'd be much good milking cows or managing a dairy farm when the boss is gone on their holiers.









(Joke) or is it???


When you're used to hundreds of cows, milking less and left in charge is a cakewalk.
Farmers are crying out for responsible people with experience that can take over at the drop of a hat.

wrangler

Say my name wrote: »

Yea... I can't imagine you'd be much good milking cows or managing a dairy farm when the boss is gone on their holiers.









(Joke) or is it???


When you're used to hundreds of cows, milking less and left in charge is a cakewalk.
Farmers are crying out for responsible people with experience that can take over at the drop of a hat.

The longer I'm away from it the more regrets I have .......... that I didn't do it sooner

Say my name

wrangler wrote: »

The longer I'm away from it the more regrets I have .......... that I didn't do it sooner

And there's people that don't know any better.

Sacrolyte

We institutionalized

Say my name

Sacrolyte wrote: »

We institutionalized

You could say the same about lads stuck in a pub all day.

When you have a gra for what you're doing and get paid for it.. I suppose it's heaven.

GrasstoMilk

wrangler wrote: »

The longer I'm away from it the more regrets I have .......... that I didn't do it sooner

Be great if a few more would take a leaf from your book and let some young lads at it.
An awful lot of land is going to be tied up with lads farming extensively and collecting the eu money and probably working outside the farm.
It's the way 2 neighbouring farms have gone in the last few years

Ragner

Tbh im at a crossroads possibly like quite a few lads, single, no kids. Im tempted to lease it or flog the lot. Loads of energy left but im not sure farming is a good use of it anymore. Constantly worried now in case I get sick esp if I start a new enterprise on the farm.

Muckit

wrangler wrote: »

Don't know if I'd do farm work again after 50 years of it

There's a man here in ballinasloe. He's 100. Still drives. Won 1st 2nd and 3rd prize for his tomatoes in Tullamore Show. It's all in the mind. A person should never "retire."

wrangler

Ragner wrote: »

Tbh im at a crossroads possibly like quite a few lads, single, no kids. Im tempted to lease it or flog the lot. Loads of energy left but im not sure farming is a good use of it anymore. Constantly worried now in case I get sick esp if I start a new enterprise on the farm.

I had an opportunity to stop at 55 and didn't take it and regret it now, time runs out very quick,
Retiring isn't simple either, you need to be developing an interest with nothing to do with Agriculture for years before it

Ragner

I think youre right. I have plenty of outside interests thankfully.

kerryjack

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Markcheese wrote: »

How long before some one comes up with a mobile, robot machine, the constant power would mean a genny on permanently, and cooling would be an issue,

You could have a form of sloped treadmill in the base of it. So the cow has to do a certain amount of walking inside in it in order to generate power for the thing.

That could be the answer there to all the world probloms you could stick a rod up her arse as well you would surely get another bit of power out of that. get it patented quickly and I will look forword to seeing you on dragons den .

TheBoyConor

A mobile milking machine could have a roof clad with solar panels powering the equipment and charging batteries. Then a backup generator integrated into it too to provide power and charge batteries when solar is insufficient.


Anyway, for lads looking to pull back from heavy work and milking as they get in their 50s, could one become primarily an environment farmer? is that possible? Basically allow most of the land to return to nature, getting in on every scheme possible to make it feasible and pay you. I'm thinking planting native broadleaf trees, blocking up drains to create wetland habitat, planting wildflower meadows. And keep select portions of the best land to keep a small few pet pedigree cattle just as a hobby and to stay farming at least on paper.

Ragner

Unless you are already farming a hill farm or in a severely disadvantaged area not a runner at all. You would devalue your farm massively . You would be better off selling , reinvesting for income and maybe buying a smallholding.