Pros & Cons of Our New WeCover/Lely Robot Barn

[@swampyankee72]

You'll find that the barn is warmer than you expect between the compost and the animal heat. As far as the 'hole in the floor,' that should be designated the Discovery 120 robot area. But if it's a nagging concern, you could always build a 'garage' over it. Im impressed with how well the Ley monitoring system works. It catches any issue with the herd in its early stages. A great tour and interesting observations. Good luck with the new set up.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@swampyankee72 Thank you for your advice and kind words!

[@swampyankee72]

@@HollcanaFarm You're welcome. It's too bad you're not closer to Maine I'd love to attend your open house! I hope it's a smashing success!

[@YaseenKhan-en2kl]

Nice working ❤

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@YaseenKhan-en2kl Thank you!

[@7018cowboy]

Great video and content. I stumbled upon this video by scrolling. I am also a dairy producer with 550 cows milked by 11 a4 robots. Always learning about robot barns. Thanks.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@7018cowboy Wow! You will have lots of experience! Thanks for the encouragement!

[@kurt4917]

A great little tour of the barn. Thanks!

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@kurt4917 Your welcome!!

[@harveypenner2386]

Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@harveypenner2386 Your welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@mikeklehr7105]

WOW! Great in informational video. I was surprised the info you get to follow the health of each cow. That's great. Thanks

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@mikeklehr7105 I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@MissouriRob]

Glad i ran across the video..... was watching in the beginning of build and was busy and lost track of progress..... nothing is perfect, you just hope after you spend the money that the good outweighs the bad..... the grind of milking is very daunting...... especially when you are a one man band...... i think i would go back to a modern tiestall ...... the routine is hard on the body forsure..... but the comfort of it is amazing..... I'm not a fan of cows moving around on concrete at will..... seems like my incident rates are extremely high. I hope everyone is happy with the barn..... I'll stay tuned..... enjoy.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@MissouriRob Thank you for watching and for your comments. There is something nice about the tie stall. It was homey!

[@dougwatterson2155]

The graph info on the cows is amazing with the robotics ! If you were closer we would do the drive but a bit far from Niagara this time of year for this old x farmer.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@dougwatterson2155 Yes, we are super excited about that!! I wish you could come too. It is a long drive for sure. Maybe if we have another open house in the spring🤞

[@mennoreuten1563]

Thanks for the onest opinion, much appreciate, mayby after one year do another one, hope all goes well,thanks and greetings from a Dutch dairyfarmer

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@mennoreuten1563 You are welcome! Thanks again for watching and commenting!

[@allendavidson6608]

Wonderful Video Today!..... Seems as though for only being in the brand new barn that things are going pretty well. From your earlier pre-new barn videos it has been almost a complete change in how you used to do things. Were You given a different set of expectations on how fast everything would take to get fully up to speed in the New Barn?. the video today was great in that we got your honest views on so many parts of the new operation. From all of the videos I have seen so far and as a complete outsider fascinated in this whole process, the one thing that strikes me a bit is the amount of manure splatter you are getting on your walls, is that to be expected?, or it could just be me after seeing all of that brand new concrete ..... LOL. I have to THANK YOU again for continuing to bring us all along on this Magical Journey to the 21st century Hollcana Robotic Dairy Farm. I still look daily for the latest video from You sharing with all of us...........

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@allendavidson6608 The expectation is that we would be getting a handle on things by 3 months. So, we are doing pretty well. The splatter is on part because while training the cows were penned up more than they will be going forward. Also, the manure collector took a bit to get set up to work the best. My pressure sprayer broke down so I am planning on getting another one. I am gradually working out a cleaning schedule that can be kept up. I like things clean too!

[@jacobsfarmextras]

How is the Somatic Cell Count (SCC) with this type of cow bedding? The barn looks thoughtfully and simple yet very affordable. Are you also achieving the fat and protein levels you aim for?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@jacobsfarmextras so far the SCC is well within the proper limits. Similar to the old barn. We have to manage it very carefully to make sure it won't be a problem. Getting it to heat up is important. We like it so far.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@jacobsfarmextras the fat and protein is doing pretty good. We changed their feed lately and it set them back a bit but it is coming again now.

[@jacobsfarmextras]

@@HollcanaFarm Why I am curious: here in the Netherlands, these types of barns are rarely built anymore because of the bacterial pressure, which generally correlates with a high somatic cell count and many cases of mastitis. I know that your somatic cell count limits are more lenient than ours; here, warnings start at 200,000. Fat and protein levels in milk here are also higher, with fat around 4.7% and protein at approximately 3.6%. For the cows, of course, this type of barn concept is much better than traditional cubicles with rubber mats.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@jacobsfarmextras We also receive warnings of Scc at 200,000 and it goes red at 400,000. We will have to be very careful. Our fat and protein have never been as high as 4.7 or 3.6. we have had 4.4 but are running at around 4.25 right now.

[@jerryjerry4567]

Hi nice barn you got really impressive. I would like to know what’s the tracking system you’re using it’s really helpful .thanks

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@jerryjerry4567 What do you mean by tracking system?

[@jerryjerry4567]

@@HollcanaFarm I meant the system that tells you about the cows activity and all that related the one on the computer 😅

[@HollcanaFarm]

@jerryjerry4567 it's the Lely Robot program also called Lely Horizon

[@jerryjerry4567]

@ thank you

[@gwc3721]

How many sq feet per cow in the compost area?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@gwc3721 125sqft

[@martinguel1]

Great set up! Just a comment on your number of fetch cows; ever thought about reducing starch in your mixed ration to get your concentrate in the robot more attractive for your medium producing cows. Less energy in the mixed ration needs more energy in the robot - but it makes cows walking. Later on Wenn you're producing more than 30-35 kg you can increase starch in the mixer Wagon again. Recommend to talk to your nutritionist! All the best from europe!

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@martinguel1 Thank you for confirming what our Nutritionist already said to do. He is from Europe originally.😊 Still have a few cows not getting it anyway. One cow doesn't eat her pellets when she is in there. Not much motivation for her.

[@bodiehot]

great video

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@bodiehot Thank you for your support!!

[@randymarch5140]

Juno story for you. I have Juno. When it was new it beeped when in motion. after a month or so I would hear it beeping but it was at the charger. I kept thinking this is strange. Well it turn out Juno was NOT beeping. We had a bird that mimiced Juno. After a year the beeper on JUno quit and the bird quit too. For the most part I love my Juno. I do not believe I could operate the robotic milker. I am 61 years old and I am half holstein. set in my ways.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@randymarch5140 That is so funny! My husband is 60 years old and he does lose his patience. That's for sure! We wouldn't have done it without the younger generation working with us.

[@Andy-ix2ox]

As a dairy farmer in Ireland we researched putting in robots in our pre-existing housing which would have been possible without a lot of building work, however the cost of doing this was prohibitive in comparison to installing a new milking plant ( which we did) . You guys obviously have spent a lot of money to build this unit and I am just wondering what is going to be your payback time ie. 10 /20 years and I noticed that you have two farm houses does that mean that you have two families trying to get a living out of your herd , I am aware that the system in Canada is very different to our system however I would feel that it would be difficult to get two incomes out of your size of herd even in Canada and quite frankly a herd your size over here would probably have to be subsidised to make a living from. I am well aware that these questions are very personal and do not feel in any way compelled to respond, but if you can vaguely answer how you justified this investment it would probably interest many other dairy farmers around the world. Thanks for the video.

[@HollcanaFarm]

We more or less had no choice but to build if we wanted to continue dairy farming. Our oldest son really wanted to continue farming. His wife works off the farm but it is going to be very tight money wise for awhile. Thanks for your comment!

[@aft0315]

What brand of headlocks are those? I like the idea of being able to lock individual cows.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@aft0315 They are Jordayne and we got them through Conestoga Surge. They are from France.

[@beancountlynda]

Thank you for the great tour. I have enjoyed watching your videos. Does all your family work on the farm? Do you have employees who are not family?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@beancountlynda I have 4 children. My oldest works full time on the farm and his wife helps too. My youngest son has a full time job off the farm but helps out on weekends, some weeknights and helps extra at harvest time. Both my daughter's are nurses. One is married and the other one is living at home and has been a tremendous help cooking meals throughout the whole startup. My husband and I work full time on the farm but don't do as much as when we were younger. Ron's cousin helps with the calves and making meals. We have one person, not family, working but she dates my youngest son, so practically family.😊 We had more employees before the new barn.

[@jeffkizer6666]

Have you had any babies in the new barn ? And how do you Handel that chore??

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@jeffkizer6666 Yes, we have had 6 or 7 new babies in the new barn. They have their calf in the close up pen, we put a gate in the pen so the cow can see her calf but the calf can't suck on her. We use her colostrum to feed the calf with a bottle. The cow goes from the close up pen through gates over the walkway to the fetch pen. She gets milked by robot, milk goes to M4USE buckets and then the cow gets routed to seperation pen where we can then send her across the walkway back to the close up pen. We do that for a few days and then send the calf to the calf hutches and the cow joins the milking herd. Works pretty good! Should be on a video in the future🤞

[@richardbaumgartner9453]

Nice video... I enjoyed How has your milk production been doing? I really like yhe brightness and clean look your facility creates

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@richardbaumgartner9453 Thank you! We are just getting back to the milk production we had in the old barn. Hopefully it keeps going up now.

[@richardbaumgartner9453]

Nice Congratulations If your business production is at or near your recent production from older facility I think you're about to move your milk production even greater numbers .. with new facility your have access to more data and hands on to manage your herd to greater strength

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@richardbaumgartner9453 I know that is how it supposed to be but it is still hard to believe. Somedays are better than others. I know we have not reached the 3 month mark yet so we are doing good according to our Lely rep. Our milk production is back to what it was in the old barn. Hopefully all upward from here on out!

[@richardbaumgartner9453]

@HollcanaFarm Wow I think this is an outstanding performance.. -you took a risk Your whole crew is learning and growing through a lot of new experiences.. On some farms it takes a whole herd lactation cycle to get milk production to recover .. You're cow herd looks relaxed laying in compost chewing cud.. I think your milk production has recovered quickly.. I also think your about to realize you have more time to enjoy other aspects of your farm life

[@PondbankFarms]

What time is the open house?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@PondbankFarms Anytime between 8:30am and 5:30pm. I hope you can make it!

[@PowershiftScotland]

Happiest Cows 🐄 I have ever seen. Clean and Comfortable. Has their milk production increased compared to the Stall Barn?

[@HollcanaFarm]

Thank you! They are pretty happy! We are still working on bringing the milk production up. It will take time. Always easier to go down then up.

[@whitby910]

Amazing. Thanks for showing us and explaining it all. I think the 'girls' have adapted easier than you have.(?) Must be strange for you all.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@whitby910 Yes, I think you are right! We just put a 2nd calver through for her first time and it was amazing how easy it was. We just have to remember all the steps beforehand. I will have to video that too. I just kind of panic a bit when a cow calves and forget the camera.

[@melvinstein7739]

I can't smash the "like" button enough times to do justice to this video! Brilliant and thorough review of the entire system and facilities. I am curious about the condensation inside the cow building and how you are managing that? I was curious if the fans are reversible so that the warm air in the top of the barn could be circulated back down without creating too much of a draft. Might need VFD's to regulate speed om the ones used for that purpose. Certainly wouldn't need them all. Great job! Thank you for sharing all the details!

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@melvinstein7739 Thank you very much!! The fans are not reversible but they do pull from the ceiling already. We didn't think of pulling the warm air down in the winter months. We are still waiting for the guys to come and set up the whole weather station, probes, fans and curtains so they work together. Maybe they will suggest fans in winter too. Not sure. So far we lower the curtains when it starts to drip. It is difficult because it is not automated so we are not always in the barn when it needs to be changed. In the old barn I called my husband "The window, door, fan man." He was always on top of the air in the barn. I didn't get it in the old barn and I am struggling in the new one too🥴

[@damien3278]

Would straw be better for bedding for the cows and better for the soil later, The dust from the saw dust wouldn't be healthy long term, even peat would be less dusty, huge change for you and the family and the cows, best wishes from Ireland

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@damien3278 We are told that straw doesn't work for a compost pack. There is a certain way to do it and you can add straw but very little and it has to be finely chopped, only barley straw or canolla straw and preferably after it was rained on a few times. What you are talking about is called a straw pack and we know farmers that tried it and they had really bad problems with mastitis. It works ok for dry cows and heifers but their manure is stiffer and they aren't leaking milk. As for the soil, yes, straw is better but this will be well composted by the time we spread it so it should be pretty good. I agree the dust is bad but it is only every 5th day for 30 minutes at the most. We were bedding everyday with straw in the old barn and it was dusty too with less air space.

[@RichardNettleton]

Really enjoying the new barn journey, very good barn tour. Can you please introduce yourself and tell us your brief story now and then, do you AI the cows? Cheers 🇦🇺

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@RichardNettleton Thank you! Yes, my son and I both can AI the cows and we do use a bull sometimes.

[@paulbouwman229]

What are you unsure about with servicing the collector?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@paulbouwman229 cleaning the filter and changing the rubber etc. The service guys went over some stuff but we were overwhelmed at the time. I think they have no problem going over everything again and maybe my son is way more confident than I am. Probably! I wasn't even sure if I could hose it down or pressure wash it. I asked our rep yesterday and she said I could but just be careful of the front. We are gradually working out a system for chores and maintenance as our time in the barn becomes more manageable.

[@paulbouwman229]

@ ok, ya I was overwhelmed when we put ours in back in February to. The rubbers and wear parts grand river will replace when needed when they do service every six months. As for cleaning you can pressure wash but ya be careful around that front panel. And for cleaning inside the tank, it doesn’t hurt to do it every week but I haven’t done mine in probably four months and works fine. The main thing is keep the around the tires and ultrasounds clean. The nice thing with them is you can’t really cause any damage to them if you neglect maintenance, they just might not work as well.

[@david19659]

How cold does it get in your area?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@david19659 It can be -10°C to -20°C or so. It feels more cold because it is a moist cold, not dry. The snow helps when it comes. I feel more cold now because it is wet and windy and no insulation with the snow.

[@gallmeyer17]

Can you do a video of the milk truck picking up at the new barn.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@gallmeyer17 Definitely! 😁

[@gurhanbayrak1701]

Kac sagilan ineginiz var robotta.tesekkurler

[@HollcanaFarm]

We have 52 cows milking at the robot right now.

[@wilmahoogendam6320]

What’s the tall tank in the milk house for?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@wilmahoogendam6320 That is the buffer tank. Since we are ming 24 hours per day the milk needs somewhere to go when the milk truck comes and takes the milk. Also, the main tank needs time to wash.

[@trevorkelly1879]

how do you turn the bedding when using robots as there will be always cows loafing?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@trevorkelly1879 We get them up and send them to the scrape alley where they stand to eat. We time it that the manure collector isn't cleaning at that time. It only takes about 10 min to work the pack and it gets the cows up and moving to the robot for milking.

[@jerryrobson9309]

How are the cows coming to get miles.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@jerryrobson9309 Our Lely rep is happy with our progress. Sometimes it feels like one step forward and 3 steps back. Some cows are going on their own for a while and then they stop again. We still fetch 8-10 cows. We sometimes are averaging 2.5 milkings/day/cow. It goes up and down a bit. I think some of these cows will need to freshen again to get it.

[@randybennett5417]

Do the cows get rewarded with grain while being milked ?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@randybennett5417 Yes, that is when they get their pellets and the amount is based on each cow's needs. How much she milks, fat level in milk, days in lactation etc. The robot releases a bit at a time while they are milking and each time she comes in.

[@johnsheahan2279]

Have you learnt any tricks to reduce the number of fetch cows?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@johnsheahan2279 One thing we did is feed the cows at lunch time instead of in the morning. That makes the feed last longer overnight to encourage them to get up and eat and maybe go to the robot. We changed the gating sometimes so they learned to go in from both sides of the push gate. We went at random times and pushed cows at a different time then what they are used to. Some cows just get it after a bit and I don't even know why. Some may not get it till they calve again, so they say.

[@whitby910]

Now the work load is/will be 'reduced' have you had any ideas to maximise your profits? I am thinking about making the milk into something or opening a shop at the farm. Very early days, I realise, but it would be interesting to hear if you have any more 'dreams' now this one has become reality .

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@whitby910 Thanks for the ideas! I will keep them in mind. One step at a time for now

[@bubbaviper4]

Was a bathroom in the barn ever considered?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@bubbaviper4 Yes, I have always wanted a bathroom in the barn.

[@kenhill3135]

I wouldn't worry about the hole, it's all fenced.

[@RichardNettleton]

Grandkids, new calves.

[@jeffyurek4342]

@@RichardNettletoncats

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@kenhill3135 Thank you, I hope it will be ok. We just thought it would be nice to train springing heifers with the cows. We wouldn't want to take the chance of one calving and a calf getting pushed into the hole. 🥴 I guess we will keep the heifers seperate than till we come up with something.

[@salmonhunter7414]

Put a roof over the hole with an opening on one side.

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@salmonhunter7414 Yes, except the reason we are concerned is if a calf could get pushed into the hole by the machine. The newer collectors charge while sitting over the dumping station. This one can't do that. We don't have cows calving in this area but we sometimes talked about training heifers before they calve in with the cows but this would scare us from doing this.

[@turklayher4794]

So how do you check for mastitis?

[@HollcanaFarm]

@@turklayher4794 the robot takes a sample of milk at the start of each time the cow is milked. That is how mastitis, bloody or watery milk shows up. It then can also give a Scc reading from that. Every milking and every individual teat is tested. If the milk is bad it automatically gets diverted from the milk tank.

[@kevincollins9051]

KEVIN collins LVE zoom