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Longevity for robot and cow
There are double celebrations on Denny, Brenda, Steve & Lucie Hooper’s farm near Okehampton, Devon, this spring as one of their two Lely A3 robots surpassed the 10 million kg milk milestone and one of their cows, 16-year-old “Inwardleigh Cougar Daisy Lin 3” or #653 for short, has just had her 12th calf and produced over 138,000 kg of milk.
With 1 daughter, 2 Granddaughter’s and 1 Great-Granddaughter in the herd, Daisy Lin 3, who was born in 2006, has milked in the robot since her first lactation in March 2009 and last year received a lifetime production award for producing 130,000 kg of milk by Holstein UK. To date, she has produced over 138,000 kg of milk and after giving birth to a heifer calf on 14th March 2022, Daisy Lin 3 is now in her 12th lactation and milking once again in the A3 robot and currently giving 35 litres a day.
She has produced 8 heifer calves, one of which, Inwardleigh Raphael Daisy Lin has produced over 84,000 kg of milk so far. Daisy Lin 3 was classified as “excellent” under the Holstein Scheme in 2021.
The Hooper’s who calve all year round and farm 300 acres, installed their first Lely A3 Astronaut robot in early 2007 followed by their second robot in October 2009. They believe that the robots have contributed to their 150 strong herd living such long and healthy lives.
“Daisy Lin 3 is such a lovely cow and is looking so good following her latest calving. She’s giving 35 litres a day and we’re sure her longevity and good health is down to her milking through the robots” says Lucie. “She can choose when to eat, sleep and milk and this freedom definitely suits her”.
Steve added that it was fitting that Dan Gifford General Manager at Lely Center Devon & Cornwall was on hand to present them with their celebratory milestone plaque as Dan was one of the original engineers who helped to install the second robot back in 2009.
“It’s always good to know that if either robot breaks down, an engineer is always available for a farm visit or to give phone support. It’s quite an achievement for one of the robots to reach the 10 million kg milk milestone and I don’t think our second robot will be far behind”
Eldest daughter Faye, 13, is already taking a keen interest in the farm and the robots and hopes to work on the family farm once finishing school and continue to work with Daisy Lin 3’s descendants.
Lely Center Devon & Cornwall Manager, Dan Gifford, added “Being able to work with the Hooper's over the past 13 years has been a pleasure and the longevity of their robots, the incredible 10 million kg milk milestone, and the impressive age of Daisy Lin 3 is testament to the Hooper families hard work and diligence to both their animals and their milking robots."
