How DeLaval VMS Robots Are Revolutionising Dairy Farming Efficiency and Profitability in Cumbria

Tony Blamire installed his first four DeLaval VMS robots at Park House Farm, near Wigton, Cumbria, in 2019. With 276 in milk and 330 in the herd, he subsequently installed a fifth robot in 2024 and intends to install a sixth because the farm has increased its land to 850 acres. 

The herd is housed all year and yields 12,000 litres per cow per year. 

“We used to milk 250 through a 28/28 herringbone parlour and it took at least eight hours each day. It became impossible to find staff to help, and robots were the best way to give us the time we needed to run the farm,” he explains. 

He has worked out his cost of production as 35p per litre of milk. With the milk price at 38p that leaves him 3p per litre profit. The farm also finishes beef calves for ABP as an additional income. 

“The margins are tight and that is why robots make sense. Robots are a fixed cost. I have a maintenance plan with Mathers Dairy Ltd, our local DeLaval dealer, and they handle everything from repairs to the supply of consumables, all under a fixed cost contract. There are no hidden costs and, crucially, no surprises,” he says.

Breaking down his costs, Tony suggests that robots are not the biggest percentage. 

“Taking the 35p per litre total cost of production, I would say 45 percent is land management. We grow wheat, spring barley and wholecrop on 300 acres and we have 550 of grass. Now that we are not milking nine hours a day we are managing the land more efficiently,” he says. 

The herd is growing, which makes youngstock rearing a significant cost. 

“I would say 25 percent of our overall cost is dedicated to youngstock rearing. We are trying to calve heifers younger at 21-23 months, but it’s the first eight weeks that determines whether we can. We are feeding higher quality milk powder too,” he says. 

The robots are 20 percent of his production cost, which he sees as good value considering the hassle-free nature of the milking system and the time savings that have enabled better management of other areas of the farm. 

“We only pay for robot items that cost less than £75 plus the cost of a technician if one is needed. We have learned to do more ourselves to reduce callout costs. For anyone who thinks robots can’t be touched by farmers, I think we have managed to dispel the myths and demonstrate to ourselves that robots can be fixed like anything else on a farm,” he says. 

The final 10 percent of his production cost is fertility. The farm uses sexed semen which is an added cost. However, the robots have technology which protects this investment. 

“Delaval’s’ RePro progesterone testing system identifies cows that need serving faster than we can. It flags up silent cows much sooner too, so we waste less and get cows back in calf faster,” he says.

Our InService™ all-inclusive service contract has been adopted by the majority of our robot users because it provides parts, consumables and advice for a fixed cost. 

This is where the case for robots begins to grow. With fluctuations in so many costs, the concept of having an everyday task managed by machines offers more than just practical sense. 

“The robots don’t need holidays, they don’t have compassionate leave, illnesses or car problems. They are 100 percent reliable, and we have had very few problems that can’t be fixed in minutes,” he says.

His operating costs are fixed, which has helped him to grow and he will soon install a sixth robot. 

“We know that we can spend a fixed sum on robots and expect to produce the milk yield to make a profit. An employee would cost at least £40,000 plus national insurance, pension contribution and holiday entitlement. And, a person is not guaranteed to last. DeLaval has been around for 130 years and Mathers has just celebrated its 100-year anniversary,” he says. 

With five robots he has an average of 55 cows per robot. One robot is positioned separately and used for heifers only. 

“55 high yielding cows is plenty for one robot. We have had problems with TB and seen numbers fluctuate. Sometimes fewer cows can still yield the same amount of milk, because they are all getting access when they need it,” he says. 

At its height, before TB losses, the herd reached 290 in milk. At this level he suggests that some shy cows were not making it to the robot as often as some of the more confident cows. 

“We expect four or five visits per day from high yielding cows early on in the lactation. This can mean some giving 60-70 kilos but this averages down to around 55 kilos because of competition for the robot access,” he adds. 

He now has the time, land and wherewithal to grow, and he intends to. 

“The robots make business growth so much more manageable and that is why we are willing to continue to make investments,” he concludes.