Machinery & equipment

Round-the-clock support keeps herd in prime condition (Nov/Dec 24)

Installing a collar-based monitoring system and automatic sorting gate has improved the health, fertility and productivity of two...

Low noise, less stress and no mess (July/Aug 24)

Milking is a well-oiled operation for one large Devon-based herd, since the installation of a new rotary parlour. Cow flow has improved,...

Automated route supports cows and staff (May 24)

Investing in milking robots, and other labour-saving automated tech, has helped one family-run unit improve milk yields and cow health....

Precision condition scoring boosts fertility (Nov/Dec 23)

Body condition scoring could be the next management task to be automated using technology, offering greater accuracy and potentially big...

Technology and data are key to new unit’s success (Nov/Dec 23)

Advances in robotic technology prompted one Scotland-based dairy business to switch from beef to dairy production – and with considerable...

Do you have a ‘plan B’? (July/Aug 23)

Many producers missed out on the latest round of grant funding, but investing in tech can still be justified if the figures stack up....

Change management – not just mindset (May 23)

Increased milk frequency and greater precision offered by robotic milking has many udder-health benefits, providing herd management and...

Fine-tuning key to staying on track (May 23)

Refining herd feeding using a robotic system and the latest technology means one Somerset-based herd is reaping the rewards of higher...

Sire selection for ‘robot ready’ cows (May 23)

As more producers take the automatic-milking-system route, it makes sense to breed cows that better suit this technology. One breeding...

Tech needs to tick all the boxes (Jan 23)

There’s a wealth of innovative technology available to support and help improve herd management, health and welfare, but how should...

Tune parlour routine to match herd requirements (Nov/Dec 22)

On units where cow numbers have increased it’s vital to check that parlour and milking management routines match the size of the herd. We...

Cool and breezy made easy (Oct 22)

Assess ventilation carefully before investing in cooling tech to ensure the most effective system is installed and there’s a good return...

Guided system supports optimal herd management (Oct 22)

Automated technology is helping to improve herd productivity, both easily and efficiently, and paying significant dividends on one ...

Photographic precision is key to pro-active management (July/Aug 22)

Automating mobility and condition scoring using a 3D camera is proving a success for the furthest easterly dairy unit in the UK,...

What’s ‘sparking’ typical milking problems? (July/Aug 22)

Stray voltage can create milking-time mayhem, but producers should rule out other factors before blaming electrical issues for unusual...

Smile for the camera! (May 22)

Automating mobility and body condition scoring will help to improve interpretation of cow health and welfare data while saving on...

Mixer maintenance key to maximising performance (Nov/Dec 2021)

The mixer wagon is the second most-used piece of machinery on dairy units, so it’s vital to ensure it’s working efficiently. How can...

Latest milking tech saves time and boosts yields (July 2021)

Installing automated parlour systems has reduced milking time and increased milk yields on one West Sussex-based unit. And that’s just...