ROBOTIC milking is amongst the latest farm related technology which is improving the lot of cattle herds, herdsmen and farmers and James Read of Pyrland Farm in Taunton is a true advocate.

The new hi-tech facility at the 300 acre Pyrland Farm allows cows to choose when they want to be milked rather than rounding them up at specific times in the day. The cows are trained to enter a milking bay where a transponder recognises individual data and a robotic arm senses exactly where the teats are and attaches the milking cups.

On completion, the robotic arm then cleans the teats and cups and returns to its stall leaving the farmer with a huge amount of data regarding milk yields, its quality and any signs of health problems.

Pyrland Farm has replaced its 30 year-old conventional milking parlour installing three of these new milking bays in a purpose built facility housing around 180 cows and located over a 9,400 square feet slurry pit which is eight feet deep. The passageways between the stalls are continuously traversed by a robot mobile barn cleaner, which helps keep the cows feet clean and these remarkable ‘ladies of leisure’ even have a back scratcher!

James Read said: “A healthy cow is a happy cow. This equipment allows them to milk when they choose 24/7 and delivers around ten litres each visit, over three visits each day. They are not kept hanging round in collecting yards and are not stressed or stretched from holding too much milk.

“It’s a considerable investment but the evidence is that the cows live longer, milk yields increase, they lactate more often, fertility improves, the herd is easier to manage, the farm is a cleaner place and we reduce the risk of serious infections.

“It has changed our lifestyles by shortening the working day and taking the grind out of the work. It has helped us turn our attention more fully on other parts of the businesses we run on the farm while bringing the enjoyment of dairy farming back to us.”

The investment was supported by Clydesdale Bank with agri-partner Graham Poulton advising the Reads throughout the process of developing the new facility which finally milked its first cow in December 2009.

Graham Poulton said: “Investment in technology that improves profitability while making a huge step forward in the welfare of cows is helping James and Mary develop a business model that will help them achieve their long term ambitions.”