Database of RDP 2007-2013 project examples

Project title:	Building a robot-farm
MEASURE:	1.4.2
Measure name:	investments into livestock buildings
Theme:	agriculture
Start year:	2009
Local action group:	LAG The Partners
Name of the beneficiary:	LTD Vaeküla Suurtalu
Sum of support:	493 387 EUR
Backround of the project:	The idea raised from the employment issue and reconstruction of old farm. There were 17 jobs, but in connection with new farm, there were only place for 11 workers. If there hadn't been the new cattle-shed then some workers would have lost their jobs. The 4 old cattle-sheds didn't meet the requirements so the entrepreneurship would have been unsustainable. The new cattle-shed allows to use new technology which was a real innovation in 2010.
Objectives of the project:	The aim of the project is to adjust with the claims and to continue with milk production.
Main activities:	They built a robot-farm with new technology: mounting new automatic feeding machine JOMBO, mounting 4 automatic milking machines, building a ventilation system (it helps to keep even temperature through all the year - 4-8 degrees), building a rest-floor with electrical Skreeper rest cleaning device (the manure drops under the rest), mounting a special gearing. As an alternative to electricity, they have a diesel-generator which provides electricity up to 24 hours after interruption of supply.
Output and results indicators:	The number of animals and the milk output was increased up to 10%. Robot-farm improves the welfare of animals. New devices allow to milk the cows during all 24 hours according to the need. There is now equable temperature, and it is easier to keep the cattle-shed tidier thanks to the new rests.
Experiences/lessons learned:	A farm needs to have a driven well to maintain contiguous water usage. The milk output is dependant on that, because 1 cow needs 700 litres of water to avoid milk output fluctuation. If the robot-farm wouldn't have received support for construction works, the milk production would have been stopped.
Contact person :	Arvi ALeste
County:	Lääne-Viru county
Project inserted into database:	2012-12-05

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