Interesting content at Lely virtual open day

Thompsons, Genus and Riada Vets experts joined Lely on the Toberanne herd virtual open day and provided great insight as to how the herd is managed.

A team effort has helped David and Stephen run the 220 cow herd themselves with help from contractors, the labour saving Lely Discovery slat scraper and Lely Juno feed pusher. Since changing from their old parlour to Lely Astronauts their average yield has increased from 9,300 litres to near 12,000 litres, the farm is producing 2.4 million litres with two full time labour units using four Lely Astronauts.

Stephen Morrison, Mary-Jane Robinson from Thompsons, Adam Conn from Riada Vets and Ian Watson from Genus ABS answered many varied questions from farmers across Northern Ireland and further afield.

“Stephen does a multi-cut silage system and the feed is worth maintenance plus 12 litres, if silage is cut later it might only be worth 6 litres which is equivalent to 3kg of meal,” said May-Jane Robinson.

“This farm is using genomic testing which provides a more accurate prediction of how each replacement heifer will perform. This allows them to use sexed semen on the best animal and give a faster genetic progression of the herd and better profitability,” commented Ian Watson.

“I scan cows every three weeks and do general health checks when I’m here, this means we have more cows at peak yield, more milk in the tank, prevent health problems or take early corrective action,” said Adam Conn.

For anyone who missed the event it will be available on the Lely Center Eglish YouTube channel or to find it, or past events visit lely.com/gb/centers/Eglish.

Previous virtual opens days include Damm Holsteins, Lisburn, David and George Simpson run the 60 mixed lactation cows on the robot doing an average of over 40 litres per day, Mark Cunningham is getting over 10,000 litres from a grazing and zero grazing system in Aghadowey.

The Fleming family at Potterswalls Jerseys are projected to hit 8,000 litres, Telfords from Fintona are yielding 10,000 litres per cow on an indoor system run by Hazel Telford and the Maxwell family in Augher have seen their yield increase by over 30% and feed rate decreased by 23% since moving from an old parlour to two Lely Astronaut A5’s.

The Lely Astronaut can give more efficient use of time, better cow health and reproduction and increased milk yield.

The latest version of the Lely Astronaut was launched in 2018. It represents a big leap forward in the evolution of robotic milking.

For more information call Lely Center Eglish on 02837548228.