How End Farm Open Day

See robotic milking in action and meet the team behind Lely Center Longtown  

Discover how Lely robotics are helping the Swainson family farm thrive. The team at How End have designed a set-up that makes the most of their existing building footprint while preparing for the future.

In under 2 years the Swainsons Farm has converted to automation and have seen the benefits not only their 400 cows, but for the environment. The farm now benefits from:

• 6 x A5 Astronaut automatic milkers
• 1 x Lely Discovery Scraper
• Automated calf feeders
• Wind turbine

From birth, calves are nurtured so that they thrive from day one. The newly built calf shed is fitted with automatic feeders, helping to introduce them to free cow movement early on.

That nurturing continues with a focus on creating a clean, comfortable environment. The Lely Discovery Scraper keeps passageways clear, reducing lameness and improving welfare. Together with the health data collected from the Astronauts, the family farm can stay ahead of illness with the mindset that prevention is better than cure.

Sustainability is also built into the farm. The wind turbine supports the daily running of the farm and the robots, with surplus energy sold back to the national grid.

The layout of the shed makes cow flow smooth and efficient. Tandem separations and an innovative extension allow for easy vehicle traffic around the outside while providing new space for separation and feeding. One Astronaut is dedicated to fresh cows and heifers, maximising efficiency and cow comfort.

This approach has delivered real results. The Swainsons were recently recognised at the Cumbria Farmer Awards, winning the title of Cumbria Dairy Farmer of the Year 2025.

 

Whether you are already a customer or just beginning to think about automation, you are very welcome to attend.

 

On the Day

• Rolling farm tours throughout the day
• Lunch provided (registration required for food token)
• Meet the Lely Center Longtown team
• See A5 Astronauts and barn equipment in action

 

Register Today

 Registered attendees will receive an Open Day Pack, including:

• Farm map
• Information on rolling tours
• A5 Next brochure
• Barn Equipment leaflet
• Food token
• Lely pen

 We’ll email you closer to the date with all the final details.

 👉 Register now to secure your place and your Open Day Pack.