For the Lewis family in south Wales, investing in a robotic milking system together with new cubicle housing while continuing a relatively low input grazing system has achieved their objectives within 10 months of switch-on.
“We’ve become a lot more efficient and have a more enjoyable life,” explains Rhodri Lewis who farms an 80-cow pedigree Holstein herd near St George’s, Vale of Glamorgan, with his parents, John and Becky and grandfather, Robert.
“Yield has already increased 30% to an average 9,000 litres and we’re now targeting an average 10,000 litres in the next two years, consequently the system should pay for itself well within our budgeted period
“The Lely A5 robot has also given us as a family a massive lift – we’ve so much more enthusiasm. Life is more flexible and enjoyable; we’ve realised we can achieve a work life balance.
“Working days still have challenges, however they’ve been reduced to a more comfortable 11 hours, and we are now able to take time off, something we were never able to do when we were tied to twice-a-day milking.”
Rhodri adds the robot has also introduced flexibility.
“This season for the first time we could continue silage making without a break to milk, while I’ve now time to make building improvements; I’m currently revamping the youngstock housing, and I can do more off farm contract work, including hedge cutting.”
The Lewis family, who farm a tenanted unit, say they had reached a crossroads; their outdated system comprising a 40-year-old parlour and shed with Newton Rigg cubicles had reached the end of its lifespan.
“Initially we considered quitting dairy for sucklers however we are die-hard dairy farmers plus the fact we had a closed pedigree herd which our family had established over 100 years ago and we just couldn’t envisage not milking cows,” explains John.
Rhodri adds: “Another parlour was considered however labour was always going to be an issue and we liked the fact robots were more efficient and would enable us to individually manage each cow. Grandad, who had hand milked cows before he went to school, was all for progressing.”
Rhodri says cow management has ‘massively improved’.
“We now have time to study each cow as well as Horizon, the system’s software programme. First thing every morning I log on to check the health report, udder health and heat detection for each herd member. One of biggest improvements has been fertility – preg rate has improved from between 30 and 35 to 42. The system enables us to pick up bulling animals faster and it’s so easy to draft them off for AI.
“We also like the fact Horizon is continually updating yield forecast 18-months ahead for both individuals and the herd which helps us to business plan and we share with our processor in return for a bonus.”
