Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-04-19, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2000. Robotic milkers give dairy operators flexibility Freeing up the farmer The newly-installed robotic milkers at Bellestein Farms, north-west of Blyth, after some initial growing pains, have brought some freedom to the operators of this dairy operation, Henry and Sandy Bos, with daughter Brookelynn. Also pictured is Henry’s father Art, who first saw the robotics in Holland several years ago. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff To a casual passer-by on an early morning or to a mid-afternoon visi­ tor, life at Bellestein Farms outside Blyth may seem a typical dairy oper­ ation. For the Bos family, Henry and Sandy, aided by his now ‘retired’ father, Art and mother Corrie, with chores to do, animals to feed and calves to tend, the work day is of course long and full. However, while other dairy pro­ ducers are milking at 5:30 a.m. and again before supper, the Boses you might say are ‘udderly’ free. The future has arrived at Bellestein in the form of a robotic milker, the third installed in Canada. Though an extremely popular innovation for some time now in Europe, the robots have only come to this country in the past few years. Art Bos saw them first while visit­ ing family in Holland seven years ago. “His brother-in-law kept taking him to different farms where they had robotics and telling him he should try them,” says Henry. Though impressed by what he saw, the real push to install them at Bellestein came when the Boses’ older son Arthur, who had helped with the milking of the 90 Holstein herd, said he wanted out to concen­ trate on his poultry operation. “With Henry taking the farm over, we knew he couldn’t do it alone, so we were either going to have to hire someone or buy the robots,” says Sandy. Justifying the cost wasn’t difficult, she says. “We figured in the long run it was cheaper to get the robotics than hire someone and it came with less headaches. These don’t want weekends off, summer vacations, nor do they call in sick. They just don’t quit.” The concept of the robots is that of free choice for the cows. The ani­ mals must be trained to go into the robotic milker’s square box. Once inside, they get a ration of feed as a reward. The robotic is on a grid sheet with a key pad much like a remote con­ trol. An eye is run with a lazer. To find the location of the teats on each cow, the eye has to be placed within so many inches of the udder. “The robot basically remembers where it started so the next time that cow comes in it looks for the same position,” says Sandy. Cows are identified to the robot by a responder on their neck. The robot washes, milks and sprays the cow. “Everything that is normally done in a parlour,” says Sandy. The robot also keeps records. “It remembers exactly what every cow gives for the last 14 days and when it milks,” says Henry. That information is stored in the computer system in the bam. With the cows able to enter the box any time they please, the animals are averaging three milkings a day, which is expected will increase pro­ duction. Bellestein Holsteins have a herd average at this point of 31.5 litres per day per cow, which is a slight increase since the installation in September. “It’s good production. We’re not doing too bad,” says Henry. While it’s said the cows have free choice with regards to milking the robot does have some control. “If they come too early they’re reject­ ed,” says Henry. “The robot opens the next gate and the cow just walks through.” It also lets the producer know if there are any problems. “I have a pager. If the robot stands still for more than one hour it will tell me. Then I call and ask why.” This happened once in the early stages when a gate shifted trapping a cow. This particular problem has been eliminated, however, since the cattle are trained, allowing for the removal of those gates. While the introduction of robots on the farm has brought a flexibility uncommon to dairy operations, it was not without its growing pains. Though Henry says they were told there would be headaches at first, both he and Sandy admit that didn’t really prepare them for what to expect. “You needed someone 24 hours a day to train the cows and show them how the robot works,” says Sandy. “They were scared of the box and didn’t want to go in.” “With the idea of free choice we chased them for 24 hours a day so that they learned they could go in when they pleased,” says Henry. Basically they learn to come in before they’re uncomfortable.” Saying it took about three weeks for the cattle to catch on, and for Henry to finally be able to go to bed at night, Sandy admitted that in those days there were some moments spent wondering if they had made the right choice. However, in retrospect they think the problems could simply have been lessened with more help. “We should have maybe hired more people so that everyone could have had some breaks,” says Sandy. Despite the blips of the past, there is no question in the young couple’s mind of the robots’ value to the industry. Asked if they are the future of the dairy industry, Henry’s response is an emphatic yes. Others may be just as certain if the interest from both inside the industry and outside are any indication. And the Boses are doing what they can to educate and inform others about the robotics’ value. Having had many inquiries, the family, after getting comfortable with the system, decid­ ed to host an open house for neigh­ bours. They have also conducted farm tours, one for the Kent County Holstein Club and one for 16 people from Quebec who came to see the robots installed in an old bam. “The only robots in this country have been in new bams. They didn’t think it could be done in an old barn, but they do it in Europe all the time,” says Henry. , And with the trials behind them, discussing the robots and the changes the system has brought to their lives illicits nothing but smiles. “It is great,” Sandy beams. “We're freer. There is no more having to be back from somewhere to milk, not on Christmas Day, not in the sum­ mer. If we’re a little later it doesn’t matter. The cows have already been milked.” The robots also give a busy farmer time to do other things, says Sandy. “Now for example Henry doesn’t have to stop baling hay to go milk.” With the help in place in the bam, the Boses future is the hope of one day being able to expand their herd. The robots are capable of doing 60 cows apiece which means they could add another 30 milking cows. “We have room to grow but with quota the price it is, it will be some time,” says Henry. Yet, with the excitement generated by this progressive move, one can’t help thinking the young couple won’t be held in one place for long.” Trucker’s quick action avoids serious collision Through quick reactions and con­ sideration for the least damaging alternative, a Walton-area man was able to avoid a serious collision, April 4. Doug Mitchell was returning to Listowel around 4:30 p.m. after driving an Allan Johnston Ltd. milk truck to Toronto. Cresting a hill in the westbound lane of Hwy. 86 just east of the community, near Carson Farms and Auction Services Ltd., Mitchell saw a stopped school bus with two cars behind it. Realizing he would not be able to stop in time, Mitchell pulled the tanker onto the shoulder, crossed a laneway and Wallace Road 152 before smashing through a wire fence and entering a field occupied by horses. The student exiting the bus, Cody Beimes was not injured as he had checked the traffic and run for the house. The milk truck damage was not extensive, Mitchell was unhurt and no animals in the field were affect­ ed. North Perth OPP Sergeant Don Seim said OPP do not believe excessive speed was a factor in the incident. Tools taken from workshop On April 13 at approximately 7:15 a.m. a break-in was reported at the Airtight Storage business on Cranbrook Road in Morris Twp. Sometime between April 12 after 8 p.m. and before 7 a.m. on April 13 a workshop on the property was entered after a door was forced open. Taken was a pressure washer, acetylene torches, impact wrenches, two air impact guns, air die grinders, ratchet sets, welder and numerous hand tools valued at over $5,000 Anyone who can help OPP officers in this case is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477(TIPS). CALL TODAY FOR YOUR _/T ria r I&1B tty tts&yi Lllfz ..nble & Rogers Ltd» I IBAARfllOA CAI EEUPCOMING SALES________ Division of S I With the drastic increase in i Home Heating Fuel burning ’ wood will put money in your pocket Call the ‘Wood People’ for... nw SLABWOOD, IE HARDWOOD OR B COMBINATION LOADS CJWG HARDWOODS LTD. Auburn Ont. 519-526-7220 FAMILY BUSINESS SINCE 1866 z TUESDAYS THURSDAYS FRIDAYS 9:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows Drop Calves, Veal, Lambs, Goats & Sheep Stockers Pigs BRUSSELS 887-6461