Basic HTML Version
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
16
SUMMER 2013 ISSUE
CASE STUDY
Increased milk production
Prior to the robot installation, milk yields
were averaging 9,300 litres. Now this
has risen to 10,300 litres.
Mark explains: ‘The robot’s computer
reports show more cows are reaching
a decent peak, and yields have
better persistency.
‘Submissive cows are yielding up to
3,000 litres more in a lactation, as a
result of not standing in the yard waiting
to be milked, and less stress as they can
choose when they go to get milked and
avoid the bullying from dominant cows.
So these timid cows now have the
opportunity to fulfil their potential.’
The partial mixed ration that the cows
have free access to is composed of grass
and maize silages, molassed sugar beet
feed, brewers grain, molasses and a 24%
crude protein blend. Mark adds: ‘The
feed rate per litre is no different - so with
better forage next year, we think they will
be even more efficient.’
Mastitis control
Reductions in mastitis cases are common
after moving onto automatic milking
systems as cows are getting milked more
frequently. At Cross Hill Farm, cell counts
have dropped from around 200,000
cells/ml to 140,000 cells/ml.
Methods of mastitis control have had to
change. Mark explains: ‘In the parlour,
we’d tube the problem teat, and inject
an antibiotic.’
The robot system detects blood levels in
the milk, conductivity, and on a quarter by
quarter basis, the percentage of yield that
is obtained versus expected. These three
measurements are used to identify when
mastitis treatment is needed.
Ian explains: ‘This data analysis enables
mastitis cases to be identified sooner, and
the Robinsons have found a reduction in
treatments required.’
Mark says: ‘Once a mastitic cow has
been flagged up on the computer, we
walk through the herd, find the cow,
and give her the antibiotic injection in
the cubicle. Repeat offenders do get wise
to this, and have been known to get up
and move when they see you coming
with the needle!’
Lameness control
Lameness is kept under control by having
a footbath in the crossovers at the end
of the shed.
Additionally, the Robinsons are considering
installing rubber mats on the slats by the
milking units. Ian explains: ‘Cows are
turning as they enter and exit the robot.
If there are other cows around then these
turns can be exacerbated, and can
increase the incidence of white line
lesions. Rubber can reduce the shearing
force exerted on the foot, reducing
incidence of this type of lameness.’
The next steps
There are some decisions ahead for the
Robinsons to make due to a large batch
of replacement heifers coming through.
Ian explains: ‘If the herd increases, then
cows will come to the unit less frequently,
so there’s no gain in milk output. So we
will be looking at the milking records and
evaluating whether to cull some of the
slower milkers, and replace them with
faster milking heifers - albeit they will
be lower yielding than some of the
older cows.’
At Cross Hill Farm, the robot system has
improved cow health, increased yields
and freed up a significant amount of time
for Mark and his father. They recommend
that farmers considering a move to robotic
milking should look at different systems on
different farms, and check out the local
dealer, as good back-up is essential.
Getting started
At Cross Hill Farm, the main calving period is
from May to October and so the contract with
the robot manufacturer was that the machines
had to be operational by then. That way,
heifers calving down would be introduced
straight onto the robot system.
Having been involved early on in the decision
to change the system, Ian was able to ensure
that heifers were ready to calve in May:
‘Once the decision was made the Robinsons
pushed the heifers’ growth rates to get them to
the right size for service as early as possible.
They then channelled a lot of effort into heat
detection. We did a lot of PD sessions to
detect those not in-calf, so we could focus on
smaller numbers as time went on.’
At the start, the herd numbered 200 cows,
as the Robinsons wanted to get both the cows
and themselves, used to the system. Now, a
year on, the herd has expanded to 230 cows.
Ian adds: ‘If there are plans to expand the
herd, then it’s important to account for this in
the initial set-up design, and have the wiring
ready, otherwise it’s an expensive process to
add an extra robot at a later date.
Mark comments: ‘We thought it would be
much harder to start with than it actually was.
The first week we worked in shifts 24/7. But
within two weeks, it had settled and we were
saving 35 hours each week.’