Flexible Grazing 2025 - March British Bairying Insert
Maximising grass utilisation with robots
Automatingyardwork toboostefficiencies
Brightfarmingisyoursbychoice.
There’s no doubt that the resilience of farmers and farm businesses is being pushed to the limit thanks to imminent changes in inheritance tax and National Insurance, plus increasestotheNationalMinimumWage.
Againstthisenvironment,it’simportanttotakecontrolwherepossibleand design a business that is both efficient and adaptable. That’s where automationcomesintoplay.
Howit’susedandthereasonit’susedwillvaryfromfarm-to-farm,butthe beauty is it can be adapted to meet your specific aims. That could mean optimisingefficienciesbyincreasingmilkingfrequencythroughtheuseof robotic milking; boosting milk from grazed grass by using an automated selectiongate;orimprovingudderhealthwithaslurryrobot,forexample.
Roboticmilkingsystemsalsocreatehugeflexibilitytograzeinawaythat suits farm requirements. For some, that will involve simply giving cows access to grass to meet milk contract requirements. Others will want to adoptintensiverotationalgrazingsystemsdesignedtooptimiseutilisation ofgrazedgrass,witheverythingin-between.
Allofourgrazingfarmscandrawonadvicefromournetworkofpassionate LelygrazersintheUKandEUforongoingadviceandsupport.Thisincludes Somerset farmer, Matthew Senior, who runs a block calving, grazing focused, robotic milking system and is an extension of our Farm ManagementSupport(FMS)team.
TheteamatLelyCenterYeovilcanhelpset-upasystemthatdeliversyour objectives, whilst providing ongoing support to ensure you continue to achieve your goals. As part of the long-term relationship with our customers,ourFMSteamwillproduceaFarmScanreporttwiceayearto summarisebusinessKPIsandbenchmarkagainstsimilarLelyCenterYeovil farmstofacilitateconversationsanddiscussimprovements.
Nicky Lockyer says the 120 Collector has resulted in cleaner cows, leading to less mastitis and improved foot health.
Using robotics to ensure cows are housed in a clean environment,alwayshaveaccesstofreshfoodandcanmilk when they want is helping to unlock the herd’s genetic potentialatCurscombeFarm,Honiton.
Nicky Lockyer and family made the decision to move to robotic milking having recognised the old infrastructure was holding back cow performance. With two young children,automationwouldalsobuildflexibilityintoNicky’s workingday.
Nicky’shusband,ChrisLockyer-anagriculturalequipment supplier - designed and fitted the new building. The shed wascreatedwithcowcomfortinmind,withwidepassages, environmentallycontrolledcurtains,waterbedsandaccess to two Lely A5 Astronaut milking robots, which were installedusingaFarmingTransformationFundgrant.Cows movedintothenew-buildinMarch2024.
ALelyJunoautomaticallypushesupfeedninetimesaday, whilst a Lely 120 Collector travels around the shed vacuumingupslurrybeforedepositingitinacollectionpit. Nomanualscrapingisrequired.
Nicky’s aim is to manage a healthy, productive herd with cows achieving six lactations and at least 60 tonnes of milk. “TheJunoandCollectorallfitswiththat,”she explains.“A happy cow that can do what she wants; milk and lie when she wants, doesn’t get disturbed by being herded, will give more milk and have better longevity.”
Theteamofrobotshaveresultedin:
1.Lesswaiting
Cows are only shut away from the robots/beds for 15 minutes a day whilst the cubicles are bedded-up. This compares to a maximum of five hours a day when cows were waiting to be milked through an 8:16 herringbone. Cowsarealsonotbeingdisturbedbythescrapertractor.
"We’ve seen a vast improvement in cow cleanliness,” Nicky comments. Cleaner udders has provided the confidencetouseantibioticsonjust10%ofcowsatdrying off compared to 30% previously. In the old system, an averageofonecaseofmastitisamonthwastreated.This hashalvedinthenewshed.
A better environment, improved feed access, higher milking frequency and ability to target feed through the milking robot has supported a yield increase from 9,400 litresin305daysto10,900litres.
For Andrew and Richard Holloway, grazing cows was non-negotiable when they moved to robotic milking.
Simple Grazing System Supports High Yields on Robots
Using a Grazeway Gate to automatically draft low yielders out to grass has created a simple, hybrid system that supports high levels of production at Manor Farm, Somerset.
Robotic milking ticks all the boxes for the Holloway family, allowingthemtograzecows,workmoresociablehours,and boostyieldsto11,000litresacowayear.
TheHollowaysmadethedecisiontomovetoroboticmilking in2021whentheirtri-bonemilkingparlourreachedtheend ofitslife.ForAndrewanddad,Richard,robotsweretheonly solution.“Labourwasgoingtobeanissue-therewasalack of people wanting to do the job”, Andrew says. Richard agreed: “We could have invested in a parlour and found no onetogoinit”.Itwasrobotsornothavingthecows.”
They didn’t waste time, immediately choosing Lely Center Yeovil. “We’d heard good things about Lely so we didn’t look elsewhere,”Andrewsays.
After visiting a number of set-ups, the family worked with theteamatLelyCenterYeovil,includingProject
Coordinator,AlistairCumingstoworkouthowtoretro-fit two Lely A5 Astronaut robots into the existing sheds. A Grazewaygatewasincludedintheplantoautomatically filter cows out to grass. Delays in funding through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund meant it took until September 2023 for the robots to be up and running.
Richard says: “Alistair was brilliant during the set-up process. He managed to squeeze two robots into the existingbuildings.Heknewwhatwouldwork,liketaking outacoupleofpanelsfrombehindthewatertroughsto allowtimidheiferstoseetherobotandencouragethem to visit. We wouldn’t have thought of that. He’s a clever chap.”
The work required was relatively straight-forward: one of the robot rooms was housed in part of the old parlour with another put in the collecting yard. The dispersalyardwasalsodugupforslurrychannels.
Thecowsadaptedwelltotherobotsandquicklylearnthow to use the Grazeway Gate. The Grazeway is set up so cows that are 150 days calved and pregnant, or barren will be automatically filtered out to grass after milking. They can then choose when they want to come back in via a ranch gate.
This means the high yielders have more space inside and more opportunity to visit the robots, which aids production. Atthesametime,theloweryieldersareabletoutilisecosteffectivegrazedgrass.Cowsareset-stockedacross30acres whichissplitintothreefields.
Jon Eldridge, Farm Management Support for Lely Center Yeovil,designsthedietatthefeedfencetodeliver70%of thetotalherd’srequirementswhengrazing.Thisisadjusted according to demand, which reflects weather and grazing conditions. Cows are fed to yield through the robot, with close attention paid to concentrate and feed allocations to optimisemilkfromforage.
Jon explains: “When we supplement concentrate, we factor in a high level of dry matter from forage - so we factor in 15kg of forage dry matter as a minimum and then supplement from that. That means you’re not oversupplying and they have appetite to eat forage.”
A Lely Juno, automatic feed pusher ensures the ration is pushedupmultipletimesadaywhichalsosupportsforage intakes.
Bothforagequalityandvolumesufferedasaresultoflast year’s challenging growing conditions which has been reflected in milk from forage. Andrew and Richard are hopefulthatabetterforagemakingseasonwillpushmilk from forage back above 3,000 litres, and drive production further.Anearlierturnoutwouldalsohelp.
The fact the herd was averaging 41 litres of milk per head perdayduringlastyear’sgrazingseason,highlightsthehuge potential within system. In fact, average production has increasedfrom9,500litresacowayearto11,000litressince therobotswereinstalledinSeptember2023.
Richard says it took 25 years for the herd to increase to 9,500 litres from 4,500 litres through feeding and breeding on the conventional milking system. Andrew highlights that the herd is now producing 18% more milk with 16% less cows,becausecowsarebetterabletoexpresstheirgenetic potential.
Atthesametime,theteamisabletooperatemoresociable working hours. The robots mean Andrew can have the kids in the morning whilst wife, Victoria does the horses. He’s outat7.30amratherthan4amwhenthecowsweremilked throughtheparlour,andfinishesat6pm.
The farm team includes Andrew, Richard, one full-time tractor driver and a general farm worker who works every morning and a few afternoons a week. Andrew estimates they’vesavedaboutfourhoursadayorhalfalabourunitby reducingmilkingrequirements,whilstthedayisalsoeasier. Hebelievesthewholesystemshouldmakeiteasiertofind staff when the need arises, whilst also creating a more attractive option should his children Maisie, six and Bertie, threechoosetofarm.
George Dalton operates an ABC paddock grazing system for his autumn block calving herd using regular grass monitoring to determine where cows graze and for how long.
ROBOTICS COMPLEMENT GRAZING-CENTRIC BLOCK
CALVING HERD
Robotics are enabling one simple block calving system to effectively convert forage into milk, whilst using data and automation to work smarter.
Wiltshire farmer, George Dalton believes robotics complement his forage-focused, autumn block calving system perfectly, facilitating effective paddock grazing andoptimisingcowperformance.
He says the installation of four Lely A5 milking robots and a Grazeway Gate has transformed the farm into a “data-driven business,” whilst maintaining its core values as a low cost, grazing and foragecentricsystem.
However,therewerelimitationsaroundhowtheexisting 20:40 swingover could be extended and insufficient housingmeantseriousinvestmentwasneeded.
IvorDaveyfromCowPlanreviewedhowthesystemcould be adapted with a parlour, but also drew up options for robotic milking. The robots would fit into the collecting yard, whilst a self-feed silage clamp would remove the need for a feed passage and mean sufficient cubicles couldbeinstalledintheexistingshed,withjustaonebay extension.
“It’sgoingfromtreatingtheherdtotreatingthecowsas individuals,”heexplains.“It’sachancetoautomatesome ofthejobsanddailyprocessesonthefarm.AndIthought if I was making a plan for 20-30 years, robotics and technologyshouldformpartofthat.I’mtryingtohitthat happy medium of using technology, but still using a simplefeedingsystem.”
CowsaremilkedthroughfourLelyA5milkingrobots
Goingautumncalving
Havingalreadymadetheleapfromanallyearroundcalving, predominantly housed system to spring calving, in 2012, George was not afraid to change. Autumn calving made sense and George knew his herd had the potential to producemore.
“It’s cost a bit more to invest in the robots rather than a parlour, but we feel that’s future-proofed the type of work thatwillbeneededonfarm,”heexplains.“It’seasierforme to manage it with other people doing the day-to-day work rather than relying on people to deliver consistent cow managementatmilking.”
Lely was George’s first choice with Lely Center
Yeovil
block
arranging for him to visit a number of
calving herds, grazing on robots. “Lely have got a very good name for back-up and service in the area and I knew that had to be high up the list. And I like the Grazeway Gate and their system,” he explains.
The Grazeway Gate can be set up to automatically draft cowstowardsgrazingorintotheshedformilkingthrough the robots, depending on individual cow eligibility. To facilitate optimum grass utilisation and robot visits, George wanted to use the gate to operate an ABC paddock grazing system, where grazing is split into three, eight hour blocks. George decides which paddocks to grazethroughregulargrassplatemetering.
Grazingset-up
Paddock A is grazed from 2am to 10am, paddock B from 10amto6pmandCfrom6pmto2am.Dependingonthetime of day, the Grazeway will automatically draft cows one of three ways. Cows tend to learn when the gate changes to sendthemtoanewblockandheadbacktothegate.
“You’re trying to do everything to encourage voluntary movement from grazing back to the robot and out to the next paddock,” he explains. “The important thing is allocation of grass. Too much grass, they’re likely to stay out there. Too little and they’re likely to come back as they’re looking for the next feed. A combination of platemeteringandgrassallocationisthekeythingtoremember there.”
Cows will be buffer-fed silage at grass when calving begins, before being housed and fed robot concentrate and self-feed grass and maize silage which is layered with rape meal. Some silage is fed through troughs whilst Georgefine-tunestheself-feedsystem.Theherdwilllikely be turned out in March and will move to purely grazed grassandanaverageof2kgofrobotcake/head/dayasthe seasonprogressestomaximisemilkfromgrazedgrass.
The 2024 calving season was the first with all cows and heifers calving in the autumn. The new system has already translated into better performance, with the herd on track toachieve7,500litresacowhalfwaythroughlactation;up from5,500litreswhenspringblockcalving.“Icanseethem doing8,000litres(percowperyear)asanaverage,”George says. Milk solids have also risen from 510kg milk solids per cow per year to 640kg with cows averaging 570kg in body weight.
Cowdata
Automated heat detection collars have also proved “100% spoton,”helpingtogetcowsin-calfforthe10weekblock. “Our conception rate is 65% on the cows which I’m very happy with. I put that down to it being a very stress free, happyenvironmentforthecows,”Georgeadds.
The robots also monitor for the early signs of mastitis, allowing prompt treatment. This could mean treating cows with UdderSalve and a non milk withdrawal antiinflammatory. George says: “Early detection has been a massivehelp.Thenumberofcowstreatedisfarlessthanit usedtobe.We’rerollingatsevencasesper100cows,which isbasicallyhalfwhatitusedtobe,”hesays.
As we head into a new grazing season, Jon Eldridge, Farm Management Support for Lely Center Yeovil, and Mathew Senior who runs a spring block calving herd milked through robots, and is an extension of the FMS team, provide six tips for grazing on robotic systems.
1.Adoptagrazingsystemthatsuitsyou-Robotsystemscanbeadapted to simply provide cows with access to grass or to facilitate strategic paddock grazing. Splitting grazing into three areas (ABC) controlled with the Grazeway gate will facilitate good cow movement and visits to the robot. The gate can also be used to selectively graze. This could mean keeping fresh cows inside and allowing eligible cows out to grass, for example.
3.Knowwhatyou’vegot-Regularlymonitorgrazingcoverssoyouknow what you’ve got and can plan a grazing rotation to optimise grass utilisation and quality. This also helps determine buffer feeding requirements.UseaSpringRotationPlannertoplanthegrazinground.
4. Ease cows into the season - Don’t graze heavy covers early on. Cows need a little bit of re-training at the start of each season. Allocating a lighter cover or smaller area will encourage them to come back to the robot.
5.Balancetherationtocomplementintakesfromgrazedgrass-Early season grass can be high in dry matter, protein and energy. Consider a lower protein robot feed to balance it. Don’t over-feed concentrates at early grass. Provide a buffer feed when necessary that complements grazing.Thismayneedtobehigherinfibreearlyintheseason,withmore energylaterintheyear.
6. Maintain grazing quality - Quality grass will encourage cows to leave the shed to graze. Graze at 2,800-2,900kg DM/ha down to 1,500-1,600kg DM/hatomaintainqualitygrazingallseason.Considerusingbackfences topreventovergrazingandhelpregrowth.
