Family Van Ittersum "Since we started milking with Merlin 2+ milking robots, we've rarely had to fetch cows, even in combination with grazing."

At Melkveebedrijf Van Ittersum-Koers in Kampen, around 150 cows are milked every day by three Merlin 2+ milking robots. The business is run by Jan Bernard van Ittersum and Kor Koers. The former talks about collaboration, service and freedom for the cow.

A smart investment

We’ve been milking with the Merlin 2+ for years now, says Jan Bernard. “The milking robot was already widely used in this region, partly because our dealer is based nearby. That’s obviously convenient.” Although Jan Bernard, Kor and their colleagues have the most contact with the dealer, he does have a good picture of Fullwood as a company. “It’s a very old company, of course. You can see those roots reflected in new developments, which are always focused on the wellbeing of the cow.” At a certain point, Jan Bernard had to choose between Fullwood’s Merlin 2+ and milking robots from other brands. “The Merlin 2+ immediately made a very solid impression. It’s a sturdy robot, made entirely of stainless steel. Six years on with the Merlin 2+, I’m still happy with our choice every day. The machines are reliable, require little maintenance and the costs are manageable. If you look at the total costs over the years, it’s simply a smart investment.” He’s also pleased that Fullwood keeps innovating its milking robot without requiring a replacement of the existing system. “This way, we benefit from the latest technology and ease of use, while our existing installation can just keep up.”

Strong roots in milking technology and short lines with the dealer

On the rare occasion a technician is needed, they show up incredibly fast. Jan Bernard: “The service is truly excellent. That’s essential, because a milking robot operates 24 hours a day, all year round.” He is also very positive about Fullwood’s Streampulse technology. This creates a longer milk column and lower vacuum under the teat, giving the teat more rest while keeping the milk duct optimally open. This results in fast and efficient milk let-down, with 50% of the milk already extracted within the first two minutes. “This means we not only milk faster, but also more completely, which in turn leads to a higher milk yield and better animal health. Streampulse offers major benefits for the cow, but certainly also for the dairy farmer.”

Relaxed and comfortable

At the Van Ittersum family’s dairy farm, the spacious and open cow box of the milking robot ensures a relaxed milking process. The double exit is particularly useful because they are keen practitioners of grazing. “Thanks to the double exit, we can automatically separate all milked cows out to the pasture, and we basically never have to fetch the animals,” says Jan Bernard. There’s also a compact separation area to which cows can be automatically guided for treatment or insemination. “When we come into the barn in the morning, these attention animals are already waiting for us. Because the barn is laid out so that the cows can be milked easily and calmly, visiting the milking robot becomes a natural part of the day. That makes the process calm and pleasant, while remaining efficient and practical for us.”