John and Hazel Murdoch are the third generation of Murdoch’s to farm Laigh Smithstone their grandfather moved to the farm in 1920 when he got married. The farm was then 120 acres.
In 1988 when they had 180 cows milking they installed a second hand 8x16 mixed make parlour which had served them well. The farm is now 450 acres of dairy and 60 acres of arable with the Holstein-Friesian herd having gone up to a total of 225 cows. John said; “It was just taking too long to milk and really the parlour had done it’s time” “We wanted to stay in milk but had to do something”
John and Hazel were looking for a mid ranged parlour which was easy to operate and wasn’t going to cost the earth. They talked to local DeLaval dealer Fullwoodhead Dairy Supplies who put together a package of a 20 x 40 midiline parlour with auto identification of the cows and DeLaval MM25 Milk Meters for ICAR approved milk recording and in parlour feeding.
John said; “We were very pleased with this offer as it was within our budget but gave us so much more in terms of automation “
The plant was installed during the last winter and was the coldest time for some years but after milking now for six months, they are really feeling the benefit of the new parlour.
“We still have some concreting to do and the slurry system must be done” said Hazel who add that it would be a good investment for their son David who is nine years old and likes to do some milking. Perhaps we are seeing here the first spark of the forth generation of Murdoch’s at Laigh Smithstone!
Kilwinning, Ayrshire, GB
225
Cow Herds
Herringbone
450 acres
20 x 40 Midiline Parlour with DeLaval Alpro Management System including Auto Identification, MM25 Milk Meters and in parlour feeding
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