Certified Pre-Owned or New? Choosing the right equipment for your farm

Making the transition to Lely automatic milking means you can look forward to increased efficiency, reduced labor, decreased waste and optimized yield potential. Deciding on which Lely Astronaut robotic milking system to go with, however, is a decision as unique as your farm.

Lely offers dairy producers multiple paths to automatic milking, from brand new systems directly off the assembly line, to a range of Certified Pre-Owned systems which have been reconditioned and certified back to original equipment specifications. While both options are excellent choices, understanding the differences between the two can help you decide which is the best solution for your operation.

The Lely Astronaut Robotic Milking System: Certified Pre-Owned A4 vs New A5

When it first debuted, the revolutionary Lely Astronaut A4 robotic milking system set a new standard in dairy automation. Part of its innovation was the incorporation of a modular design that would be used as the foundation for further development on the next generation Lely Astronaut A5 robotic milking systems. Both the A4 and the A5 quickly established themselves as industry benchmarks. Now, with both Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Lely Astronaut A4s and brand-new Lely Astronaut A5s readily available for purchase, producers can select the equipment best suited to their financial plans and operational goals.

Similarities

• Central Unit – The Central Unit is the “brain” of the Lely Astronaut robotic milking system. It controls electrical power, chemical usage, the vacuum system, network connection and more. This means if you choose a CPO A4 and choose to upgrade to an A5 in the future, you won’t need to replace the Central Unit, reducing your overall cost. Utilizing the same Central Unit also means you can rely on the same availability of parts and service, regardless of which system you choose.
• Footprint – A CPO A4 and new A5 have the same space requirements in your barn. If you start with the CPO A4 and upgrade to the A5 in the future, the new system will fit in the same spot, saving you time and effort.
• I-Flow – No matter which system you choose, both feature the same I-Flow entry and exit design, which allows cows the greatest ease of movement through the milking robot.
• Herd Management Platform – Both systems utilize the latest version of the Lely Horizon farm management software.
• Cow Insights – Both CPO A4s and new A5s offer the same animal insights from onboard sensors (Ex: Optional MQC-C2 somatic cell count sensor) and activity monitoring hardware.
• Teat Attachment and Treatment – A CPO A4 and new A5 feature the same array of lasers and 3D cameras ensuring the same attachment accuracy on both models. Furthermore, both systems utilize the same teat brushes and udder stimulation features.
• Build-to-order – Whether you choose a new or CPO system, you can custom configure the unit, with the optional equipment and accessories, that meets the needs of your operation.
• Service Agreements – Because CPO Lely Astronaut robotic milking systems have been factory certified back to original equipment specification and share many common components with the Lely Astronaut A5, they are eligible for the same service agreements as a brand-new system, where available.
• Financing – Thanks to the rigorous reconditioning and certification process, combined with the Lely-backed limited 12-month warranty, every Lely CPO system is eligible for the same in-house financing as brand-new systems.

Differences

There are three primary ways in which a new Lely Astronaut A5 differs from a Certified Pre-Owned Lely Astronaut A4: User Friendliness, Total Cost of Ownership and Reliability

User Friendliness

• When training a cow for the first time on the Lely Astronaut A5, producers will benefit from the single-button “First Milking” feature which simplifies the setup process.
• The A5 is significantly quieter than an A4 due to the greater use of electric actuators rather than pneumatic air valves being used to operate the milking arm. The elimination of pneumatic air cylinders on the robot arm also significantly reduces the consumption of compressed air which should increase the service interval of the compressor on the farm and extend it overall lifespan.

Reliability

• The milking arm on a Lely Astronaut A5 automatically returns to a “home” position on its track after every milking, meaning the producer never needs to adjust or re-position it manually.
• The milk transport system on the A5 utilizes a centrifugal pump instead of the bladder-based system of an A4, increasing overall reliability.
• The A5 also improves upon the already impressive attachment rates of the A4, delivering greater reliability and more successful connections during milking.
• Post-milking, A5 systems provide greater precision when applying teat spray, ensuring accurate delivery and reducing waste from overspray.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Hardware advancements introduced on the A5 may contribute to a lower TCO versus a CPO A4 system.

• As a result of upgrades to the milk-transport system and milking arm, the A5 uses up to 85% less air to drive pneumatic components, significantly increasing energy efficiency.
• The “Hybrid Arm” featured on the A5 was specifically designed to reduce TCO by replacing pneumatic components with electric actuators.
• The greater accuracy of post-milking teat spray offered by the A5 results in less waste.

Which system is right for me?

Ultimately, the choice between a Certified Pre-Owned Lely Astronaut A4 or a brand-new Lely Astronaut A5 is unique to every dairy and will be decided by a number of factors including operational goals, finance and capital, succession planning and more. To ensure you’re making the best decision for your operation, partner with your local Lely Center whose trained and certified staff can provide expert guidance and step-by-step support on the path to a sustainable, profitable and enjoyable future in dairy.