Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Hoard's Dairyman Blogs About Knigge Farms' Open House
The following is a 09/14/2010 blog entry by Hoard's Dairyman. Click here to see the blog entry on their website.
Open house marks anniversary of robotic milkers
Over 600 people came to Knigge Farms of Omro, Wis., to celebrate the 10th anniversary of robotic milking in the United States. It was in August 2000 that Pete and Theo Knigge, and their son, Charlie, installed a pair of A2, Astronaut robots in their new free stall barn. This May, just three months short of the 10-year anniversary, the Knigges installed the latest Lely robots, the Astronaut A3.
The Knigges told those in attendance that the new robots have some great improvements. Their modernistic design covers more of the working parts which reduces the potential for hoses and other components to get moved by cows as they are milked. The improved connection software makes for quicker milking machine attachment which has led to fewer milking failures. When a milking failure occurs, the Knigges must bring the cows up to the robot.
Another recent change to the Knigge operation is the addition of Juno which is a robotic feed pusher. On Knigge's farm, they set it up to push up feed every two hours. Since setting the system up a month ago, milk production has gone from 85 pounds per day to 94 pounds.
On average, cows are being milk three times a day. The highest-producing cow which is milking 140 pounds per day is going into the robot six times. In addition to a TMR, cows get a sweet grain mix to entice them to come into the robot. The average cow gets 9.5 pounds of that grain each day. The herd's TMR mix consists of first-crop haylage, 40.5 pounds at 36 percent dry matter (DM); corn silage, 34 pounds, 37 percent DM; high-moisture shell corn, 13.50 pounds, 67.5 dry matter; cottonseed, 5 pounds, 88 percent DM; protein mix, 2.5 pounds, 92 percent DM; third-crop hay, 2 pounds, 88 DM; and a mineral mix, .74 pounds; 95 percent DM.
One improvement the Knigges would like to see is a downward trend on their SCC which has gone up this summer. It now stands at 325 SCC. There are quite a few robotic herds that are under 200 SCC.
Pete Langebeeke, President of Lely USA presenting a plaque honoring the 10th anniversary of robotic milking in the US to Pete, Theo and Charlie Knigge.
Photo courtesy of Hoard's Dairyman blog.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Lely Featured in Eastern DairyBusiness
We are thrilled to share with you another Lely mention in the news, this time in Eastern DairyBusiness where the Blesy and Kilcer farms are featured.
To check it out, visit the online magazine website to begin reading the dairy technology piece titled, "The High Road to High Tech," as it discusses how dairies have adopted technology and made it work to improve their farms.
While you're there, be sure to flip to page twenty of the online magazine to read the article, "Less Labor, More Milk with Robotic Milkers," which highlights Nathan and Harold Blesy's dairy in Springville, NY, as well as Bill and Trina Kilcer's dairy in Genoa, NY.
It's so exciting to see how producers "Live Life Lely" all over the country!
To check it out, visit the online magazine website to begin reading the dairy technology piece titled, "The High Road to High Tech," as it discusses how dairies have adopted technology and made it work to improve their farms.
While you're there, be sure to flip to page twenty of the online magazine to read the article, "Less Labor, More Milk with Robotic Milkers," which highlights Nathan and Harold Blesy's dairy in Springville, NY, as well as Bill and Trina Kilcer's dairy in Genoa, NY.
It's so exciting to see how producers "Live Life Lely" all over the country!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Visit Lely USA at World Dairy Expo!
In three weeks Lely USA, along with more than 65,000 other dairy industry enthusiasts, will be stationed in Madison, Wisconsin.
That's right, September 28th marks the start of World Dairy Expo and Lely USA couldn't be more excited to see everyone!
We hope you'll stop by to see us in the Arena Building (booth 461-483) where you will see Lely's Astronaut A3 Next up close, while at the same time learn more about the Lely Calm automatic calf feeder.
Not only that, we'll have a second location just outside the Arena Building so be sure to visit us there, as well, to check out Lely's Juno feed pusher in action.
Join in the conversation with Lely USA, September 28 - October 2, 2010!
Learn how you can "Live Life Lely" and let us know what you would do with your extra time living life with Lely's line of innovative products.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Knigge Farms Featured in Eastern DairyBusiness
Below is an excerpt from Eastern DairyBusiness.
Ten years ago, Knigge Farms LLC, Omro, Wis. became the first U.S. family dairy farm to install robotic milkers. This summer, they replaced those original units with a new generation of dairy robots.
The farm is owned by Pete, his wife Theo, and Charlie, 34. Charlie has a 7-year-old son, Jacob. The operation includes about 125 cows, 145 head of young stock and 25 feeder steers. The Knigges grow about 600 acres of corn, beans, alfalfa and wheat, and do some custom planting/harvesting. Pete is the herd manager, does most of the AI, and serves as the dairy’s primary general manager; Charlie takes care of nutrition, cropping and maintenance. Theo’s responsibilities include calf care and cleaning the robot rooms.
(Two of Pete and Theo’s daughters have off-farm jobs, but still remain linked to the farm. Krista works for Charleston-Orwig, a communications agency primarily working with ag clients. Mary, who previously worked with the National Milk Producers Federation, became a staff member for the U.S. House Ag Committee last spring.)
Eastern DairyBusiness recently talked with Pete and Charlie, shortly after the 10-year anniversary of the installation of their first robotic milkers and the installation of two new units.
Click here to read the full article from Eastern DairyBusiness.
Ten years ago, Knigge Farms LLC, Omro, Wis. became the first U.S. family dairy farm to install robotic milkers. This summer, they replaced those original units with a new generation of dairy robots.
The farm is owned by Pete, his wife Theo, and Charlie, 34. Charlie has a 7-year-old son, Jacob. The operation includes about 125 cows, 145 head of young stock and 25 feeder steers. The Knigges grow about 600 acres of corn, beans, alfalfa and wheat, and do some custom planting/harvesting. Pete is the herd manager, does most of the AI, and serves as the dairy’s primary general manager; Charlie takes care of nutrition, cropping and maintenance. Theo’s responsibilities include calf care and cleaning the robot rooms.
(Two of Pete and Theo’s daughters have off-farm jobs, but still remain linked to the farm. Krista works for Charleston-Orwig, a communications agency primarily working with ag clients. Mary, who previously worked with the National Milk Producers Federation, became a staff member for the U.S. House Ag Committee last spring.)
Eastern DairyBusiness recently talked with Pete and Charlie, shortly after the 10-year anniversary of the installation of their first robotic milkers and the installation of two new units.
Click here to read the full article from Eastern DairyBusiness.
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