Jim Shannon MP visits Modern Lely A5 Robotic Milking Parlour
Strangford DUP MP Jim Shannon has visited the up-to-date, modern Lely A5 Robotic Military parlour of his neighbours the Angus brothers, Roland, Andrew and Paul Angus.
He said: “It is amazing to see how state-of-art technology has progressed with a new technical system which can be managed by one man.
“They have two robotic milking mechanisms that do everything. Each cow has a collar and chip and that means that the cow can be milked in two/thirds of the time as the computer indicates.
“The whole system delivers meal for each cow and tracks the progress of milking.
You can notice the calmness and serenity of the cows during milking. They come in to the milking parlour to get their meal and to be milked which is all managed by a computer.
“The Lely Robotic Milking Parlour was put in by Jim Irvine from England and his foreman Tom Armstrong to support the Angus Brothers.
“They milk 130/140 cows and have produced a high yield and milk goes to Lakeland Dairies.
“This investment has shown that the cows are very relaxed and at peace. They are not agitated or uncomfortable.
“Also, the cows are all artificially inseminated, no active bulls are required.
“This ultimately means that the milking herd can grow with the milking having a process lifetime of from 7 to 8 or up to 10 years in some cases,” said Jim Shannon.
The Angus Brothers Farming enterprise started in 1933, with the first milking taking place in in 1945 and first parlour in 1975.
“Jim Shannon added: “It has come full circle and they often wonder just what their Great Grandfather would think of it all today.
“Modern technology has taken over the dairy sector, and the most up-to-date Robotic Parlour in the Ards Peninsula is seen here benefitting the Angus Brothers.
“Other farmers too in the area to see improved high yields of milk with the cattle fed with meal. This is mostly done by computer and the ultimate outcome is a calm herd of cows.
“Due to Artificial Insemination, this means no need for bulls to be on site with a greater delivery and birth of cows rather than bullocks.
“So, what is there not to like about modern technology and of course a higher profit margin.
“Well done to the Angus Brothers for their success and to all farmers hoping to make this switch in the future to a higher level of technology in their milking systems.”
