20 PRODUCTION


pen,” Justin explains. “Because we won’t need to divert milk from the regular robots, each one is able to handle 60 cows giving us a 1,740-cow capacity.”


Although that barely tops the 1,700 cows they are now milking, they believe the increased production will allow them to fill their current quota with just 1,550 cows. By mid-September, 13 robots were already in operation and cows milked robotically average 2.9 milkings per day, as opposed to twice-a-day in the rest of the herd. “Our goal is to have a year-


round average of 1.5 kg fat per cow.” The partners say the transition is much smoother than expected “and way better than transitioning to a new parlour.” Justin says their dealer


(West Coast Robotics) “bet us we will have to pull no more than 20 cows out of the herd because of incompatibility with the robots.”


That seems to be bearing


out. “We’re running at 100% on


650 cows. We haven’t yet pulled a single cow out of the robots,” he states. It’s a much bigger


• BEEF • VEAL • BISON • LAMB • GOAT • DEER


nfrom page 19


adjustment for the partners and their staff. They have to merge Lely’s software with their Dairy Comp software and switch from a total mixed ration to a partial mixed ration with added grain in the robots. After bringing 13 robots online in the last few months, the farm is getting a welcome “six week breather” as additional barns are renovated. “This will allow us to fine tune the protocols and meld the software programs.” When the transition is complete early next year, the 10 milkers will be replaced by four “pen technicians” who will walk through the barns looking for and dealing with issues. Until then, Bernie, Justin and Brandon will be doing that “so we can fine tune the routines and adjust our staff handbook and staff training accordingly.” Corner’s Pride built two new barns for 10 robots but the other 20 will be in renovated barns. Although newer, the new barns do not look much different than the existing barns. One is a four- row drivethrough with two robots on each side while the other is a six-row with three robots on each side. Like the


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • OCTOBER 2017


Each drivethrough barn at Corner’s Pride Farm is divided into two pens. A pen with two rows of stalls has two robots while one with three rows of stalls has three robots. A series of vertical fans along the centre keep the barns cool and well-ventilated. DAVID SCHMIDT PHOTO


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existing barns, they are sand- bedded flush barns equipped with rows of vertical fans and misters on each side. The barns are designed to maximize cow comfort by providing one stall per cow. Each is flushed four times a day. Additional flushes in


STEP UP YOUR COMPACT.


Are you READY


forWINTER


front of the robots keep that area as clean as possible. Robots have been mounted on a six-inch pedestal to keep them dry and each shuts down for 20 minutes three times a day for self-cleaning. Although first lactation animals will be in their own


group, the rest of the herd will comprise mixed groups of early, mid and late lactation animals. “We want to minimize the


movement of cows between groups so each of our 11 pens will be run like a separate herd,” Bisshop says.


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