Robotic milking system is a first at Pembrokeshire show
DAIRY farmers and other visitors will get a chance to see how a robotic milking system works at the Pembrokeshire County Show this year.
The Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society has teamed up with agricultural technology company Lely to host what will be the first-ever live milking event at a show in Wales.
Lely area manager Gareth Jones said: “We are delighted to give the project the go-ahead – it has been in the planning stages for the last six months. The live milking demonstrations will no doubt be one of the main attractions at this year’s event.”
Forty Holstein cows from a local farm will stay on site for the three days of the show. They will be housed in a straw yard on the Lely stand near the JE Lawrence Livestock Arena.
The exhibition is part of the Society’s drive to educate children about agriculture. They will be able to see how cows are milked and learn more about where milk comes from.
It will also feature as part of the Food Information Trail for primary schools, which encourages pupils to learn more about food and farming.
The Lely Astronaut robotic milking system recognises each cow individually, giving them access to the robot 24/7 so they are milked when they choose. This means the cows will be milked throughout the three days of the show, not just at set times.
More than 200 pieces of data are recorded at each milking on the T4C (Time for Cows) management program, enabling the farmer to supply each cow with all her needs for optimal health and milk production.
The show runs from August 15-17.