Winter is in full progress in the northern hemisphere. With temperatures dropping both inside and outside the barn, problems may arise. In general, it is safe to say that prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips for preparing for the winter:
Management, T4C & InHerd, Feeding, Milking
Central unit and robot units
The central unit (including chemicals) and robot units must operate in a frost-free environment. Insulating the walls and ceiling of the control room reduces the risk of temperatures dropping below zero. Since the central unit and robot units may be installed in different rooms, the connecting water hoses should also be protected from frost. This prevents leakages from affecting the cleaning process. The udder-care hose must also be protected. A heat cable and insulation material are available for Lely Astronaut milking robots at your local Lely Center.
Also, please be informed about:
Cup cords
Typical rough/worn-out cup cords are more sensitive to frost. Check cup cords and replace them when necessary. They can also be sprayed with silicone.
Cleaning
Your local Lely Center calibrates the correct proportion of water and chemicals for cleaning during one of the maintenance visits.
Check that there are always enough chemicals in the bins according to Lely’s specifications in the Operator Manual (Description and Operation > Specifications > Chemicals Specifications). Here you can find the latest version of the Operator Manual.
Storage
Store chemicals and udder-care products in a frost-free environment.
Lely Discovery
Extreme frost may cause manure to freeze to the (slatted) floor. Therefore, consider increasing the number of scraping rounds by the Discovery.
For more farm management information on frost protection, we recommend that you read the following farming tips (preparing for winter).