Sustainable milk production

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James Johns
5 years ago
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2 Sustainable milk production Farm profitability The previous buildings were worn and old. A study showed that it would be most profitable to build a new farm instead of renovating. Anders' sons were interested in advancements in milk production and wanted to continue to run the farm. Animal welfare Animal welfare and cutting back labour were central factors in the design of the new barn, as were the FeedFirst TM option for mixing different feeds and a good environment for the calves. Area completely separated from the rest of the barn Milk to the calves Bedding that is easy to change Healthy animals produce a lot of milk and live longer. Environment Frequency-controlled vacuum pumps Heat recovery from milk used for hot water and heating water in the staff area Frequency-controlled water pump Mechanical ventilation Low-energy lamps Generously sized manure tanks allow manure spreading when crops need it. Protect an open countryside in a responsible manner. Social responsibility We want our herd to be as healthy as possible using the easiest alternatives and having the least environmental impact. Our workplace is nice thanks to many smart solutions. "We've built a barn that gives us good contact with our animals. They are content and affectionate. We now have a barn that is so easy to care for that we work the same hours as before and have a herd that is twice what it was." Key factors in high milk quality and good udder health include: Cleanliness/hygiene Planned preventive maintenance Preventive measures The layout has taken "pedestrian traffic" into consideration to avoid crossing the feed table wearing dirty boots Several washing stations Details about the barn Milking equipment: Animal welfare: 2 VMS OCC installed in each VMS. System rinse of equipment after cows that have poor udder health. Storage: Feeding: Calf feeding: Manure system: 1 concentrate silo In 6 feeding stations and VMS Milk in calf feeder CF500 CleanMatic in alleys Rubber mats at the feed table Milk tank: Roughage Storage: Feed: Concentrate DX 11,000 litre Bunker silo 3 trenches 10 x 39 x 3 m 1 trench 8 x 26 x 3 m 2 trenches 5.5 x 26 x 2.3 m 2 feeding tables 12 m 3 horizontal mixer 1 rail-suspended forage wagon RA135 Feeding 11 times/day 22 m 3 MAFA Unik, Fittings: Ventilation: DeLaval cubicle CC1800 Rubber mattresses Ridge ventilation with extra light inlets Building: 12 m to ridge 4 m to eaves 25 roof angle Getting there: From Gnesta. Take route 57 to Björnlunda. Drive through the village of Björnlunda, past the school and church. Turn right on route 223 to Mariefred, and drive 8 km to Blacksta, just past the T-crossing DeLaval International AB Layout: Gösta Andersson For more information, visit

3 Blacksta Gästgivaregård, Gnesta New VMS barn with FeedFirst. Details about the farm Name of the farm: Owner: Address: Blacksta Gästgivaregård Arne Andersson Blacksta Gästgivaregård Gnesta Arne runs the farm together with his sons Gunnar och Andreas. Milk production No. of cows: Recruitment: 140 milking cows 28 dry cow cubicles 160 heifer cubicles of which 60 for calves are in a separate area Old barn houses 103 bulls on slatted floor, roughage, and bulls that are sold after months Contact: Andreas Andersson No. of milkings/day: 2.3 per cow Division of duties: Area: Size of the barn: 90 x 35 m Arne: Head of the farm, heat detection, forestry and bookkeeping Gunnar: Crop production and equipment Andreas: Barn, feed, animal welfare and insemination 207 ha of which 165 is leasehold land 39 ha grazing land 115 ha forest Built: Total SEK 21 million in the newly built barn, investment: including manure tanks, bunker silo and herd Milk yield: Bacterial count: Cell count: No. of inseminations: 1.7 Calving interval: Age of heifers at calving: Work hours: 9,800 kg ECM Under 10,000/ml 200,000/ml 13 months 25 months Same work hours as before but for a herd twice the size.

4 Layout for Blacksta Gästgivaregård Design Karin Kinander and Andreas Andersson Arne (left) and Andreas at the board table in the staff room overlooking the barn. Andreas in the office, which also overlooks the barn. Arne shows off a fully-equipped shower and toilett. Dual feed tables increase feed mix options. Horizontal mixer wagon. Rubber mat in the alley along the feed table and urine separation. Both measures radically improve hoof health status. Waiting for the forage wagon that makes deliveries 11 times a day. Andreas is pleased with the inspection alley. DeLaval swinging cow brush is popular! Notice how the animals are lying, thanks to the right cubicle, neck band, and mattresses. Note also the dry gutter. Calves a few weeks old in the barn.

5 Ventilation curtain for calf area which is closed off from the rest of the barn. View of the barn. Extra light inlets at the ridge ventilation brighten the barn. Smart solution for bringing straw to the entresol over the calf boxes.. Milk tank and calf feeder for young calves. Andreas spreading straw from above. An entresol saves a lot of work. Gunnar distributes the straw in the calving boxes. There's also an entresol for storage. 11,000-liter milk tank. Heat recovery from milk. TUF20 feed front in the treatment area. Covered VMS units cut back on cleaning. Andreas in front of the OCC a valuable aid that gives cell count in real time. One of several strategically placed boot cleaners. Concentrate silo, MAFA Unik. Frequency-controlled vacuum pumps.

Seinäjoki seminars, January 2015

Seinäjoki seminars, January 2015 How we manage a low milk price & RMS (recycled manure solids) on our farm Seinäjoki seminars, 29 30 January 2015 Paula Pönniäinen Äspetorp Stjärnhov Sweden www.aspetorp.se 1 Contents Situation in Sweden