Visit to Kirkton of Beath Farm

Kirkton of Beath Farm is a dairy and arable enterprise which started in 1894, run by David and Alice Thomson and son Fraser. 

The family were milking 135 cows and were experiencing the challenges of labour costs and pressure to spend time in the dairy while managing seasonal busy periods at their arable business. In 2016, they started looking at automation as a way forward which would be able to solve these problems. 

Eleven club members accompanied by partners and friends visited the high tech dairy farm at Kirkton of Beath on Monday 27th September.

Their hosts Dave and Alice Thomson and their son, Fraser gave a tantalising and open insight into the farm business.

Dave explained the process of putting the cows in calf, sexed artificial insemination and the production process. 

Milking robots work 24 hours a day and the now 150 cows can come and go as they please up to a maximum of five. All Holstein cows, they come and go as they please. How the cow is fed determines how fast it visits the robot and since they get fed when they come to the robot that is what draws them in. 

The average cow box time is seven minutes and the system is working at 87% capacity.  The visitors enjoyed viewing young calves and were royally looked after with tea, coffee, cake and superb sausage rolls.

Thanks are due to Dave, Alice and Fraser for showing us around, giving of their time and for their hospitality.