Thunder Bay, Ontario, Great White North | Eric B - 3/3/2021 11:55 This for free flow system. Nutrionist and dealer both say 4.5kg average is good here with some herds above 5kg. Guided flow is less but nutrionist says not a lot lower. Gluten pellets aren't available. Closest "cheap" pellet was something made of peas from beyond meat burgers in Saskatchewan but supply was inconsistent.
I'm averaging 3.6kg per cow of robot pellet.
I did a bunch of math before installing the robots too. And decided I wasn't getting any younger and reliable labour wasn't going to get any easier to find.
Do not regret switching to robots back in 2011. Dollars and cents maybe it could be done better in a parlor but my time is worth something and the flexibility is hard to beat. And I'm pretty sure it would cost me over $30/hr all in for good help I would trust to milk here.
Neighbor just shut down a D10 Delaval rapid exit herringbone that was in for 7 years after their barn fire, installed 2 Lelys. I hear their parlor is looking for a new home.
Good luck whatever you decide. |
New milking parlour questions
