Legend Dairy Displays Robotic Milking System During the Upcoming Wayne County Farm Tour

  • By: Karen Skubik
  • September 30, 2013
  • 636
                        
Family time may be one reason you get in the car to enjoy the upcoming Wayne County Farm Tour, and family time is one reason tour-stop Legend Dairy, Ltd. converted their 120-head milking operation to a Lely Robotic System. Doug and Emily Horst are the 5th generation to manage their Sterling, Ohio dairy farm along with 4th generation Dean and Esther Horst. With two young children, Doug Horst felt it was the right time to convert their double-10 herringbone parlor to a less labor-intensive robotic system. Doug Horst noted, “When you’re raising a family, you need to find time for them and not have to worry about being here twice a day, all the time.” Dean Horst explained how the Lely Astronaut Robotic Milking System works, “The gate opens and a cow comes in. She is attracted in there by feed. There is a brush that comes out under the udder and brushes off each teat and sprays it off with disinfectant. Then it blows a little air to dry it. The brushes retract and then the arms swings back under (guided by a laser light) and attaches each teat cup one at a time. We are averaging milking three times a day right now.” According to Doug Horst, “The system is run by a series of computers and can be monitored via cell phone. The four computers are all communicating with each other, but they each have their own purpose. The robots capture a huge amount of data that can help with managing the herd. Each individual cow will have daily body weights, milk temperatures, conductivity and color on each of the quarters, how much fee they’ve eaten, how much milk they produce, and how much time they spend in the robot.” There was a learning curve for the cows as well as the father and son team, who also employ one part-time employee, Josh Zollinger, a Wayne County Career Center senior. But, Dean Horst concluded that is was the right move for them stating, “…the robots are a super way to go. I still am very close to all the cows (spending time with each one) when I feed and care for them. I think this helps a small operation still make it in today’s economy.” Esther and Emily Horst also take part in the family operation, feeding calves and managing the books. According to Emily, the Lely robots, “allow Doug to spend more time at home with the kids.” It’s a win-win system that Doug feels, “Is good for the cows and good for the people”. The October 12th and 13th Farm Tour is sponsored by the Wayne County Farm Bureau with information available at http://ofbf.org/counties/wayne, and a Google map can be accessed at http://goo.gl/maps/M9psQ. Additional tour sites include Zimmerly Club Lambs; Ramseyer Farms; Bauman Orchards; Rittman Orchards; Marshallville Packing Company; Bristol Dairy; Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Pet Spa and Resort; and Smith Dairy’s CNG Fuel Station.


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