Louise Hogan

double-up with a rapid exit, which also used the ProFarm management system. The costs for the parlour were €6,000 a unit, while the smart tags come in at €95, with the costs varying depending on the level of spec opted for.

John explained the rapid exit was designed to speed up the movement through the parlour while feeding.

ADAPT

“You push a button and the whole unit lifts up and the 16 walk straight up — the cow is out in 20 seconds,” he said. “It took them about two weeks to adapt — I was letting them in four at a time at first.”

John said he’s still a newbie on the software and has yet to fully get to grips with all the technology. However, the management system will use all the information from the collars and milking machine and he’ ll be able to access it on his phone or computer.

The software can be set up to deliver feed based on their lactation stage or requirements.

“I’ve a Kingswood programme here on the farm as well. When a cow calves it will automatically go to the milking machine and you can dump her then for four or five days,” he said. “It will all work in sync and it will come up how many days she has calved and it will tell she is due a heat in 21 days.”

The i100 keypad will provide control from the parlour over the feeding, drafting and gates. John said it allows him to highlight low milk yields or dump the milk for cows where required. “It can all be programmed before milking and if you want to draft a cow you can do it before milking,” he said.

“It will flag up when they are being dumped, if she is in heat and the calendar dates.” In addition, he decided to get the electronic milk meters.

John explained he also opted for a drafting system that will allow him direct the cows through a footbath when required, or into a pen for AI or veterinary attention. “If you wanted to pull something for hoof paring — it would be much easier when you are on your own,” he said, adding he still has to install the pens.

He opted for a smart tag monitoring system that means he can monitor the herd and assess heat detection, feeding time and time spent grazing.

“I was able to AI them earlier as the computer would be telling me that she was bulling for the next six or seven hours,” he said. “So far I definitely have less repeats than last year.”

John said he sees the whole suite of technology as a package but the heat detection collars have proved beneficial.

“The breeding season is the most important time of the year,” he said. “A lot of people might put in half of what I have put in but I feel it is done and dusted now and the repayments are set up with the banks.”