Lads paying 500+ an acre here just to have enough land on paper.
If you could go and buy a block in France at 1000 an acre and use that instead to tick the box, there would be plenty jumping at the chance
Which reminds me - how are hill farms calculated here? I remember there was a big hill/bog/mountain farm for sale in Maybe a few years back. It was priced at less than a 1000 an acre for about 1000 acres. Would an acre of that ground count the same as an acre anywhere else as regards nitrates? Hardly?
I think it's a lot more expensive to have a connection with larger capacity - never mind 3-phase.
I've 3 phase and it's the same rate per unit. Just don't get a commercial supply as it has higher rates
That must be what I was thinking of. But can you really get 3-phase as a domestic connection?
Have 3 phase here ….50 kva transformer all to myself …you can pick whatever provider you wish ….currently with water power …..if my line goes down it’s a priority line when comes to reconnection as local school also on it ….can run everything in place if I want …no tripped switches etc ….cheaper buy and run 3 phase motors as well
You kinda have a priority anyway if your dairy is affected.
Is the standing charge higher per month?
Mine is still classed as a domestic connection. I've it in over 10 years now but I know there was a commercial 3 phase also but was told don't look for it as you'll be paying commercial rates.
Sent you dm
I was under the impression that you had to go commerical to get the 3-phase. That was obviously incorrect though! Maybe these car charges can use 3-phase now.
There was an IFJ article a while back of a former dairy farmer from Mayo who had 3 phase but retired from dairying. With a wind turbine exporting back to grid. His gripe was he hadn't a smart meter but a simple import export digital meter. He was loosing out from exporting units as the esb wouldn't read the meter. If you could have a domestic rate with still the increased export allowance for 3 phase with the 21c/kwh of the Microgeneration Support Scheme you'd be doing very well.
Had a man here today measuring out for a parlour to go into an existing shed. Lots of ifs, buts, and maybes to be figured out over the coming weeks and months.
Can I ask people’s opinions of ACRs and swing-over arms in a 10-unit parlour? I know they’d be handy or even essential in a bigger parlour, but would you get as much value out of them in a smaller parlour?
It’d be 60-70 cows, depending on nitrates and milk price 😀
Go more units if you can and leave out the extras.
No need for acr in 10 unit imo.
Handy if you need to leave the pit for any reason but drafting and cowflow would be better investments. If budget allows acrs would be handy but would look elsewhere first. Swingover arms would keep the pit clear alright
Thanks for the replies.
I wouldn’t be putting the ACRs or swing arms in now but leaving room for them (or not) will make a difference to the layout and size of the parlour.
Its a bit like Tetris trying to make squares and rectangles fit into existing sheds.
What size is the shed? I have 60 foot by 22. 45 feet for the parlour and 12 units with jars. No acrs, don't have any interest considering the price of them.
No ACRs here in 12 units. Pay the extra money for lightweight clusters though
Silicon tubing seems to be all the go now too. Considering upgrading the tubes
Very easy to clean in comparison to rubber
How often are lads re rubbering parlours as in the main lines that ye are talking about
ACRs are a super job well worth the cost of them. You can manage without them in a 10 or 12 unit but they will make milking easier.and if your not milking yourself you'll know each cow is milked the same as every other day.
Silicone replacement for the black rubber. It lasts longer
Ya sorry I wasn't clear with my question. How often do you replace the the main rubber lines on the machine is what I was wondering. Also does the silicone last longer or shorter time frame cheers
Make the pit as wide as possible and all options are available down the road and easier to dodge poos in a wide pit.
But don’t go too wide seen a neighbour do that and it is a pain to milk in it
I changed to silicone 6 years ago and it's still looking perfect. Just had to cut the last 2" off that's on to the clusters. Looks like it will be good for a few more years anyway.
18 ft wide parlour is standard for 2ft 6 cow spacing
6 ft pit and 6 ft either side for cow stands
our pit is 7.5 ft and I’d prefer it closer to 6 ft based on parlours I’ve milked in
Shed is 3 spans long so 45ft. It’s 19ft6 wide.
I was originally hoping to put the parlour in the first 2 spans and dairy/tank in the 3rd but I think I was being a bit too optimistic with that plan. Could build on a span but that’s another cost. Another option is taking a span from the adjoining cubicle shed for the dairy and tank, but that’d mean changing the cow exit path.
The head scratching will continue. I’m sure it’ll all seem obvious in hindsight 😀
Build on the bay for the dairy
leave the next bay as cow exit from the parlour, you need that space. Our exit is only about 8 ft for 20 cows leaving and it’s a real pain, cows can only go out singly. Ideally you need enough room at the front of the parlour for the full row of cows to hold up in it
leave the last 2 bays for your parlour. It will hold 12 units but out in your 10 and leave the room at the back for down the line if you ever needed sone extra units
you will find nice 10 units on DoneDeal if you keep your eye on it
I bought a secondhand 20 units and fitted 16 - using the rest for spares. It has ACR's, light clusters and milk meters. The machine cost €7k but labour, servicing parts and buying parts came to €10k. Very happy with it. If you can a 60% grant a new one might make more sense. I was very close to opting for a new Pearson or Fullwood parlour but got a good deal on DD. I'd put in ACR'S for a 10 unit as you can leave the pit without worrying and cows will be milked out right.
