John McGahie and his family chose to go with a LELY robot during the year 2000.
GRAZING - walking to happiness
John McGahie and his family chose to go with a LELY robot during the year 2000, milking his 70 cow herd through a single LELY ASTRONAUT A2 unit. Then in 2006, a farm decision was made to increase cow numbers to 120 when a second LELY ASTRONAUT A2 reconditioned unit was installed. John's son Ryan was a major influence with this decision as Ryan has committed himself to the family farm. One thing that hadn't changed was John's belief in 24 hour paddock grazing for his cows. Once spring grass becomes readily available in both quality and quantity, cows have free access to an ‘A to B' alternate paddock grazing system. Once milked, cows pass through a time controlled LELY GRAZEWAY box providing fresh grass every 12 hours day and night. Cows appear to be able to programme themselves to be milked ‘just in time' and be ready for the new grass. Experience has taught them that if they go through too soon they end up in the old paddock they have come out from, so they walk back and go through the LELY GRAZEWAY again !
Freshly calved heifers return every 6 to 6.5 hours for milking, whilst heavily in-calf cows choose to make the journey every 10 to 12 hours. Herd yield is averaging 9000 litres. Cows that can amble in for milking in their own time are seen to be ‘happy cows'.