Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
27/05/2011 13:58:43
Automatic milking research for grass based systems
A new grassland research project, which is being carried out by the Moorepark Animal and Grassland Innovation Centre in Ireland and supported by Fullwood Limited, has been launched to investigate the most cost effective and efficient method of integrating automated milking systems into pasture-based dairy set-ups.
Fullwood has supplied the research facility at Fermoy in County Cork with the latest version of its flagship Merlin 225 robotic milking machine which was commissioned at the Teagasc Moorepark facility in February 2011 and is currently being used to milk a group of 62 cows.
"The research herd comprises of three breeds of cows: Norwegian Reds, Jersey cross-breeds and Holstein Friesians," outlines Dr Padraig French, head of livestock systems at Moorepark.
The cows were previously part of a herd that was milked through a traditional herringbone parlour. "They have adapted to the Merlin unit quickly and with relatively little trouble," Dr French explains. "The majority of the cows were happily entering and exiting the milking unit within 36-48 hours of the Merlin being brought on line. We are adding new cows to the herd on a regular basis with the aim of reaching a total of 75 cows going through the robot in 2011."
The primary aim of the three-year study is to determine how AMS technologies can be integrated into grazing based dairy systems, and how to manage a grass based AMS while optimising grass utilisation and milk production.
"The AMS herd is at pasture for 10 months of the year – from calving to drying off," Dr French continues. "We are interested in finding the most effective way of setting-up and managing our pastures to incentivise individual cows to enter the unit in order to optimise the number of milkings per cow per day and maximise the pasture harvested and profit per hectare."
The herd is currently grazing three paddocks to which access is controlled by a series of automatic segregation gates. "The cows can gain access to each of the three paddocks throughout any 24 hour period. This ensures that they are able to graze on fresh grass with each paddock providing a third of each cow’s daily grass intake.
"The small herd size means that the distance to each paddock can be kept to a minimum which in turn allows the herd to be supported on a smaller land bank. It is hoped that by the end of the three-year study we will be able to provide some really useful advice to dairy farmers throughout Ireland and further afield who want to adopt AMS but who don’t want to move away from a grass based system."
Commenting on the project, David O’Hare, chief executive of Fullwood Limited said, "Fullwood is delighted to be involved in the project at Teagasc Moorepark. The advantages to farmers and cows that automatic milking systems offer are well established. This project will give farmers wishing to incorporate AMS into a grazing based system the necessary advice so that they can plan the development and layout of their farm’s infrastructure accordingly.
"The findings of the research will have huge benefits for farmers no matter where they farm and we look forward to working closely with the team of researchers at Moorepark to transfer the knowledge that the study uncovers to the wider dairy farming community."
Fullwood has supplied the research facility at Fermoy in County Cork with the latest version of its flagship Merlin 225 robotic milking machine which was commissioned at the Teagasc Moorepark facility in February 2011 and is currently being used to milk a group of 62 cows.
"The research herd comprises of three breeds of cows: Norwegian Reds, Jersey cross-breeds and Holstein Friesians," outlines Dr Padraig French, head of livestock systems at Moorepark.
The cows were previously part of a herd that was milked through a traditional herringbone parlour. "They have adapted to the Merlin unit quickly and with relatively little trouble," Dr French explains. "The majority of the cows were happily entering and exiting the milking unit within 36-48 hours of the Merlin being brought on line. We are adding new cows to the herd on a regular basis with the aim of reaching a total of 75 cows going through the robot in 2011."
The primary aim of the three-year study is to determine how AMS technologies can be integrated into grazing based dairy systems, and how to manage a grass based AMS while optimising grass utilisation and milk production.
"The AMS herd is at pasture for 10 months of the year – from calving to drying off," Dr French continues. "We are interested in finding the most effective way of setting-up and managing our pastures to incentivise individual cows to enter the unit in order to optimise the number of milkings per cow per day and maximise the pasture harvested and profit per hectare."
The herd is currently grazing three paddocks to which access is controlled by a series of automatic segregation gates. "The cows can gain access to each of the three paddocks throughout any 24 hour period. This ensures that they are able to graze on fresh grass with each paddock providing a third of each cow’s daily grass intake.
"The small herd size means that the distance to each paddock can be kept to a minimum which in turn allows the herd to be supported on a smaller land bank. It is hoped that by the end of the three-year study we will be able to provide some really useful advice to dairy farmers throughout Ireland and further afield who want to adopt AMS but who don’t want to move away from a grass based system."
Commenting on the project, David O’Hare, chief executive of Fullwood Limited said, "Fullwood is delighted to be involved in the project at Teagasc Moorepark. The advantages to farmers and cows that automatic milking systems offer are well established. This project will give farmers wishing to incorporate AMS into a grazing based system the necessary advice so that they can plan the development and layout of their farm’s infrastructure accordingly.
"The findings of the research will have huge benefits for farmers no matter where they farm and we look forward to working closely with the team of researchers at Moorepark to transfer the knowledge that the study uncovers to the wider dairy farming community."
|
Farming items for Sale
|
New Holland T7030 - Shrewsbury(GBP 47725)
Massey Ferguson 6480 - Biddenden(GBP 38188)
Used John Deere 6820 - Cheltenham(GBP 26500)
MASSEY FERGUSON 6180 - York(GBP 10500)
John Deere - 8530 TRACTOR - Norwich(GBP 91000)
Related News
GEA Farm Technologies engineers automatic milking success - 29 Feb 2012Ben Morris, 24, and Ed Whately, 25, joined GEA Farm Technologies in February as part of a major programme to raise the profile and support to its firs...
New European base for MTech Systems - 11 Feb 2011A new joint venture business with MTech Systems Incorporated, the US-based provider of leading software for poultry, pig and animal feed industries, i...
Grass-fed beef 'better for people' says research - 16 May 2012Feeding cattle on grass throughout their lifecycle is the most environmentally sustainable way to rear beef, according to new research for the Nationa...
Research supports baling silage under rotational system - 27 May 2009New research into baled silage has highlighted its potential use as a grassland management tool, helping farmers to maximise the use of cheaper, graze...
New operations manager appointed by Ellesmere based milking equipment manufacturer - 02 Oct 2008FULLWOOD has announced the appointment of a new operations manager at its production site on Grange Road, Ellesmere. Jason Wittenbrink joined Full...
New head of customer services appointed by Shropshire based milking equipment manufacturer - 02 Feb 2009Specialist milking equipment manufacturer Fullwood Limited has announced the appointment of Wendy Williams as the company’s new head of customer...
New procurement manager appointed by Shropshire based milking equipment manufacturer - 31 Mar 2009Specialist milking equipment manufacturer Fullwood Limited has announced the appointment of a new procurement manager at its production site in Ellesm...
Minimum milk base price announced - 12 Jun 2009Dairy Farmers of Britain are announcing an estimated headline price of 20p, but after estimated costs of collection delivery and overheads this nets d...
Latest milking machine systems at the Dairy Event - 08 Sep 2006The latest milking machine systems and equipment will be featured by the world's leading manufacturers at the Dairy Event to be staged on 20 and 2...
Does eating grass turn a cows milk green? - 20 Jul 2007Most school children know that milk is white, but what colour would it be if cows ate grass? Surprising new research from Dairy Farmers of Britain ...
