Robot Dairy & WiFi/Data Installation

Long-term customers the MacTaggarts run Rascarrel Farm in
Auchencairn, Dumfries.

While the farm itself may be traditional, the MacTaggarts have some forward-thinking ideas when it comes to introducing new technology. Following the purchase of 5 robot milking machines; a new, designated area had been set up to house the new system, incorporating additional offices and holding facilities. The whole system would need to be covered by CCTV and supported by a robust data and WiFi network to ensure sufficient and consistent coverage. Following a site survey and speaking with the clients to establish their requirements from the new installation.

We specified the following:

• 19 x 4K fixed HD Colourview cameras with audio
• 2 x fully movable PTZ cameras
• 1 x 64 channel 32TB recorder for future expansion and
to incorporate existing cameras
• Connected to 50” wall mounted monitor
• 60 ghz wireless link to house/network
• WiFi coverage/internet for milking parlour & robots

Aside from the obvious increase in productivity, the robot milking system also provides numerous health benefits for the cows. The positive association of being milked while getting fed leads to the cows deciding when to be milked, and reduces stress overall for the animal. The robots also perform health checks for the cows, allowing for the monitoring of teat health. All the data from each milking is then fed directly to a device via a tag on the cow and everything can be monitored from here – the temperature of the cow, the body condition and it’s movement. Monitoring and understanding the herd in this way is crucial to the development of efficient and self-sufficient farming.