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Lely Astronaut A5 milking cows on a NZ farm.
Cows benefit from robotic milking. They are more relaxed, healthier, and reward farmers with more milk.
According to Lely, this is because the system fits much better with their needs while freeing up farmers’ time to give true attention to cows. It is simply the best system for milking cows.
The cow is the most decisive factor in the performance of any milking system. Understanding cows and treating each cow in the best way is what the Astronaut is all about, Lely says.
It says the Astronaut offers the easiest access and the most cow-friendly box to make sure a cow likes to visit the robot.
“The brushes ensure the best pre-treatment and stimulation, while the milking process is tailored to each quarter. The management system automatically arranges ideal milking intervals. This ensures good udder health and milk yield.
“Vital cow and milk data is offered as valuable information to allow farmers to take action at the earliest possible stages.
From I-flow to the most accurate hybrid arm from all sensors close to the udder to adaptive pulsating the Astronaut uses every split second to reduce box time and to optimise its output.
“A quick view during milking for the cow’s info or fast and easy first milkings make the Lely Astronaut easier to use and understand than ever before.
Lely has focused on meeting users’ demands with significant changes to the control panel and functionalities. The system offers step-bystep simple instructions with carefully considered menus and clear icons.”
Maximising benefits and minimizing costs Reducing labour by eliminating repetitive tasks, making farmers more flexible with their time and increasing milk yields and cow health are the recognized and proven benefits of automating the milking process.
Lely now offers these benefits at a steady total cost per litre that is as low as possible.
Lely says with the new hybrid robot arm, it has managed to reduce energy consumption by as much as 20%. The system’s water consumption has also been lowered, compared to the volumes used by conventional milking systems.
Hybrid Arm
The hybrid arm of the Astronaut A5 combines the advantages of electrically driven movements with the softness and the power of air.
A huge pneumatic cylinder carries the weight of the arm using virtually no air while electrical components move the arm with great accuracy.
The air in the system balances the heavy load of the arm and buffers cow kicks, protecting the electrical system.
Cow-friendly
Energy-friendly
User-friendly
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With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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