Dairy Event 2010: Don’t be cheated by a second-hand parlour

You’re flicking through the classified adverts and there it is – the milking parlour you’ve been considering buying, but just thousands of pounds cheaper.

Let’s face it, whether it’s at a sale or in the paper it’s a tempting proposition, but does it really work out cheaper in the long run?

According to Fullwood technical director, John Baines, what looks like a cheap deal and on the face of it is tempting, could end up costing nearly as much as a new parlour.

“It’s important to remember that they have got to be uninstalled which can mean digging out concrete and taking the electrical components out, transporting it and then reinstalling the parlour – all of which will cost.”

And by the time the second-hand parlour is installed, Mr Baines says it wouldn’t be unreasonable for the costs to be in the realms of 80-90% of that of a new unit. “It’s a question of buyer beware. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to find problems with electrical components where atmospheric conditions have corroded the electrical wiring and terminals.”

On top of this, the parlour comes with no manufacturer’s warranty and rarely with manuals, meaning it’s really up to the installing dealers to do a good job.

“One thing that people should be aware of when getting a dealer to install the parlour is their payment basis – are they being paid by the hour or per job.”

And when it comes to dealers, getting the same person to take out the parlour and reinstall it is important, says The Dairy Group’s Ian Ohnstad. “Someone that knows they have to also reinstall the parlour may be more sympathetic when taking it out,” he says.

And then there are the hidden costs people don’t factor in, adds Mr Baines “When you’re buying a new unit all rubber ware should be replaced. This is not only because it is often the most worn out section, but also because it is the most likely place bugs could be transferred from one unit to another.”

In addition with many more modern second-hand parlours on the market the software will often not be up to date.

To make sure the parlour is exactly what you want, make sure you test drive it, adds Mr Ohnstad. “You wouldn’t buy a second-hand car without going for a test drive, make sure you speak to the person who has been maintaining it and look at the service history.”

Dairy farmer Tom Rawson purchased a second-hand parlour for his 400 cows at Dewsbury in 2004, but says the main reason he went down the second-hand line was because it was a simple system he was using.

“It was a New Zealand-style parlour we wanted that didn’t have a lot of technology with it and so it was a lot easier to take apart and reinstall.”

He paid £10,000 for the unit which was about four years old at the time. “However, in total it probably cost me about £15,000 once I had paid to have it dismantled and put back together again. Before buying I did look into how easy it was going to be to get out,” he adds.

However, Mr Rawson does admit a second-hand parlour is a compromise. “Technology moves forward and although we have had hardly anything go wrong with our parlour, there is a noticeable difference between a new parlour we have just installed on another unit and the one that was installed in 2004 – things do move forward quickly.”

Cheshire farmer Ray Brown, Holmes Chapel, says the second-hand parlour he purchased four years ago served him as a stepping stone. “I wanted to increase milk production and reduce the hassle, but didn’t want to invest in a new set-up after my sons were unsure whether they wished to join the dairy enterprise in the future.”

He paid £9000 for the parlour from a farm sale, but says the main reason he went for it was because it was the right type of parlour he required – a 20/20 Freeway, he knew where it was coming from and it was a genuine reason for sale.

“The parlour has served me well, but it probably cost about £25,000 in total to get it installed and parts renewed. The downside was the electrics were ageing as it was seven years old when I bought it and obviously you don’t get a manufacturer’s warranty – however, because I knew where it was coming from I have not had much trouble with it.”

Mr Brown says second-hand parlours can work out a lot cheaper, like in his case, when they can fit in to an existing unit without much alteration. “It’s when you have to alter things and when you try and join up two different units that the costs can start mounting up,” he says.