Whether it’s the high milk price or the scarcity of labour, dairy farmers seem more and more interested in devices to reduce the workload around cleaning cubicles.
Five or six years ago, these devices and motorised implements were only the preserve of large farmers, but now even average or slightly bigger than average-sized farms are interested in them.
Any machine can be justified and, more often than not, holes can be picked through the justification for machinery easily enough.
However, most people would agree that cleaning and disinfecting cubicles is a dirty and time-consuming task that is one of the worst aspects of housing cows.
With selective dry cow therapy now mandatory, cubicle hygiene is more important than ever and if these machines do a better job at cleaning, then that is another potential justification.
AG Duo on display at the RUAS Winter Fair.
There are numerous types of machines on the market, with different levels of specification and functions.
One new machine on the market, which featured at the 2022 RUAS Winter Fair, was the Duo, manufactured by AG Products, which is based in England.
Self-propelled
The machine is self-propelled, but unlike other machines, the operator walks behind it rather than sits up on it.
It incorporates a brush for cleaning the cubicles and a large hopper, auger and belt-driven dispenser for applying the bedding products.
The machine is electric and powered by a battery that is sufficient to clean over 1,000 cubicles on one charge.
The maximum speed is 5mph, but this can be adjusted by a little thumb throttle on the handlebars.
The location of the brush, on-off switches and the amount of product being dispensed are all operated by the controls on the handlebars.
The AG Duo is fully electric and one charge does over 1,000 cubicles.
There are three wheels on the machine, with the operator steering the machine by moving the handlebars as they would a trolley.
The fact that the machine is electric means that it can be powered by renewable electricity and is low maintenance, with no oil changes or radiators to be cleaned.
Cost wise, the machine is retailing in Northern Ireland for £11,500 plus VAT (€13,332 plus VAT), so it is not cheap and really only targeted at large farms.
Whether it’s the high milk price or the scarcity of labour, dairy farmers seem more and more interested in devices to reduce the workload around cleaning cubicles.
Five or six years ago, these devices and motorised implements were only the preserve of large farmers, but now even average or slightly bigger than average-sized farms are interested in them.
Any machine can be justified and, more often than not, holes can be picked through the justification for machinery easily enough.
However, most people would agree that cleaning and disinfecting cubicles is a dirty and time-consuming task that is one of the worst aspects of housing cows.
With selective dry cow therapy now mandatory, cubicle hygiene is more important than ever and if these machines do a better job at cleaning, then that is another potential justification.
AG Duo on display at the RUAS Winter Fair.
There are numerous types of machines on the market, with different levels of specification and functions.
One new machine on the market, which featured at the 2022 RUAS Winter Fair, was the Duo, manufactured by AG Products, which is based in England.
Self-propelled
The machine is self-propelled, but unlike other machines, the operator walks behind it rather than sits up on it.
It incorporates a brush for cleaning the cubicles and a large hopper, auger and belt-driven dispenser for applying the bedding products.
The machine is electric and powered by a battery that is sufficient to clean over 1,000 cubicles on one charge.
The maximum speed is 5mph, but this can be adjusted by a little thumb throttle on the handlebars.
The location of the brush, on-off switches and the amount of product being dispensed are all operated by the controls on the handlebars.
The AG Duo is fully electric and one charge does over 1,000 cubicles.
There are three wheels on the machine, with the operator steering the machine by moving the handlebars as they would a trolley.
The fact that the machine is electric means that it can be powered by renewable electricity and is low maintenance, with no oil changes or radiators to be cleaned.
Cost wise, the machine is retailing in Northern Ireland for £11,500 plus VAT (€13,332 plus VAT), so it is not cheap and really only targeted at large farms.
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