More flexibility and higher milk production thanks to the Gemini UP – Kees van Beest
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Kees van Beest runs a dairy farm with 120 cows on 80 hectares of land together with his wife and son, 12 of which are maize. Efficiency is central to their business operations, which is why they opted for a milking robot.
The choice for BouMatic was a logical step. With over 13 years of positive experience with both BouMatic and dealer Leen de With from Groot-Ammers, they knew what to expect: reliability and service. In addition, BouMatic offered a more financially attractive solution than other providers, partly because the existing vacuum pump could be retained. This made the switch to the Gemini UP extra interesting.
More than 15% more milk and great time savings
Since the installation of the BouMatic milking robot, flexibility has increased enormously. Every day they have about 2 to 3 hours of extra time left, which gives them the space to organize the work more efficiently. The van Beest family is no longer bound by fixed milking times, since the robot is running. This means that they can dine together as a family at agreed times and that Kees' son can keep his fixed working week of four days outside the home .
Milk production has also increased significantly. In the first months, the Van Beest family already saw an increase of 15%, and now production is even 15 to 20% higher. The cows are now milked an average of 3.2 times a day, which ensures a higher and more stable milk flow.
Smooth installation and smooth transition
At BouMatic in Emmeloord, they made a drawing for the new set-up. The single box could be placed immediately, with some minor adjustments, and the double box was placed in the place of the old milking parlour. This allowed the van Beest family to make the switch to automatic milking smoothly.
"The cows adapted surprisingly quickly. If you give them freedom, they will automatically find their way to the robot. They are calmer and follow their own rhythm. The BouMatic pre-treatment system works on a teat at a teat basis, and the time between pre-treatment and connection is just right. This makes milking go smoothly and without problems," says Kees van Beest.
An investment that always runs
Unlike other machines that only run a few hundred hours a year, the milking robot works 24/7 and delivers continuous efficiency, according to Kees.
Outdoor grazing and daily routine
Since last summer, the van Beest family has been applying outdoor grazing in combination with the robot. After about six weeks of milking with the robot, they started doing this, and the result was beyond expectations. The cows go outside twice a day for 3.5 hours: in the morning between 07:00 and 07:30 and then back inside around 10:30. “They quickly figure out what the routine is—if you're fifteen minutes late, they're already waiting at the gate. In the summer, they prefer to stay inside during the day and go outside again in the evening around 17:00. They often return to the stable on their own around 19:30. This continuity ensures peace and regularity in the herd,” says Kees Van Beest
A future-proof choice
"Thanks to the Gemini UP milking robot, we can further optimize our business and make it future-proof for the next generation. The flexibility, the higher milk production and the smooth operation of the system mean that we are looking forward to the future with confidence," says Kees van Beest.