The problem with robots is relief....its hard to get someone when your away to manage it.
and getting a text in the middle of the night saying that number 756 hasn't shown up for milking and you're going around the field with a flash light looking for her.FYI i dont have a robot but this happens regularly apparently.
A farmer was boasting about the robot he put in and how he manages everything from his phone now.
"I press this button to do this. And that button does that." etc.
Another lad asked him how do you manage if you get a text in the middle of the night saying number 4519 hasn't been thru in 24 hours.
"I can fix that on the phone too", says yer man. "I just ring the local knackery to come collect her!"
We've one done in past year green field site with tanks in collection yard. For machine about 7k per unit (pre VAT). it all adds up when you include ACRS's, cluster flush,dump line, cashmans feeders, air gates, auto wash. Would have been a bit cheaper had we gone Dairymaster
What's dairymaster after sales service like?
Was it 7 k with all the xtras
shocking around this area here, south east.
Dm depot would be close enough to me, anyone I asked about aftersales service said avoid
Dairy master cheap day 1 …..expensive there after ….common story
I would be wondering about the robots. What are running and maintenance costs like. My parlor is running a couple of hours a day. Tank the same maybe agitator come on now and then.What is the electricity costs of a robot.
I service my old machine, liners, rubbers and keep plenty of oil to the pump. How much to service those.
Detergent, water use, does it rinse after every cow. It all adds up
The installation might be the first cost.
Anyone have a GEA parlour?
I don't know a thing about them but our local Farm Relief Service has some partnership with them, and the manager there approached me about them.
18 unit Dairymaster installed here 3 years and so far so good. Mind you it wasn't the kerry crew fitting it or servicing it. Local agent did / does both
That's crazy. It'll be cheaper next year.
Friend of mine is throwing out robots if he can find someone to take them. They don't work with grazing.
What brand
It was, 12T Bin was priced into that too, not that it makes huge difference.
They do …..robots are more about the person managing the whole thing …..you have to be far more on top of your game thru robots than conventional
Doesn't need to be have seen them in shocking awkward places but working away the finest
Ahhhh comon 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄the robot will do that only if you allow it too.......the robots are as good as the operator is
You need someone to be close by all day. And cleaning out the lazies out of the paddocks. Getting up the ones that take a nap on the roadways. Responding to alarms. Washing up the whole thing same as you would a parlour. Not for me anyway. Cows are contrary enough in a herd not to mind when left to their own devices.
No you don't christ lads would belive anything 🙄 😉 it's one of the things that I regret wasn't around when I did parlour he myself.
...anyone with robots that has to be around all day love making work for themselves or Don't know how to use them properly
Invest away so sure. It's your own money.
I know a man milking year round, so indoors and outdoors, on the side of a hill that youd need a ladder to go up. 80 cows, 65-70 in milk at a time. He has his robot at the very bottom of the hill. It is working a dream for him. He is also a secondary school teacher so gone from 8 til 4.45 off farm 167 days a year. No problems at all with the robot.
Parlours are still good value instead of tractors unless u really need a new tractor the patlour will ne long there after the tractors gone
Aim to keep under 7 rows at max numbers imo, can get in and out in good time and not be tired. Helps when looking for relief milkers as well. Get cow flow right in terms of them coming in and out and if you can a good drafting system and work on what extras you want after that. Have a spot to easily take milk to calves etc as well. With regard to brands they all milk cows so check em all and talk to local lads about servicing experience as well.
The guy I know was in the journal blowing about how great his robot was. 2 years later, he's getting rid of them. Know another lad that took them out too. I know a father and son team that have open days showing how great it is but they tell you the drawbacks at the same time. The old lad leaves the son deal with all the alarms as the robots were his idea. I don't think they'll be taking out their parlour anyway.
Problem with robots you need to graze cows tight in doing so yield i s reduced.
Some lads know when everyone else is wrong.....if you know what I mean 😏
You haven't told me what brand and hoe to contact him .......they will be cheap seen as rhey dont work
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣oh **** your a Joke John
