Keeping Three Lely A2 Milking Robots Running – An Organic Farmer’s Experience

Organic dairy farmer Thøger Larsen stands calmly among his cows near Kværndrup, Denmark. Despite running three aging Lely Astronaut A2 milking robots, daily milking runs smoothly — thanks to smart maintenance, spare parts, and the right partner.

Stjernegård, Kværndrup

At Stjernegård, located near Kværndrup on the island of Funen, Thøger Larsen runs an organic dairy farm with 135 milking cows and 100 hectares of land. Seventy hectares belong to the farm, while the remaining area is leased.

The cows are milked approximately 2.8 times per day using three Lely Astronaut A2 milking robots. Two of the robots have been operating in the barn since 2007, while the third was added a few years later after being purchased from Milcotec.

Can You Really Keep Such Old Milking Robots Running?

For many farmers, operating robots of this age would raise concerns about reliability and downtime. For Thøger Larsen, however, the answer is simple:

“It actually runs quite well.”

Any issues that arise are typically handled during regular service visits from Milcotec’s technicians, whom Thøger describes as both experienced and highly creative in their problem-solving.

In addition, he maintains a well-stocked on-farm inventory of wear parts and spare components. And if something critical is missing, a trip to Aabenraa — where Milcotec is based — is always an option.

A Full Spare Parts Inventory – Thanks to the Webshop

As parts are taken from the shelf, Thøger Larsen immediately adds replacements to his cart on www.milcotec.com

Since the webshop was launched, keeping spare parts in stock has become significantly easier — especially for older Lely A2 robots, where original manufacturer support is no longer available.

“I think we can find almost everything. And if we’re unsure, we just ask the technicians or Anne at the office.”

For clearly defined parts, the office team handles it quickly. For more complex or unclear issues, Thøger discusses the problem with a technician before placing the order.

Add to Cart – And Order When It Makes Sense

Over time, Thøger has developed a practical routine:

Whenever a part is taken from storage, it goes straight into the webshop cart. The items stay there until enough parts are needed to justify an order.

This approach helps:

reduce freight costs
ensure nothing is forgotten
keep the farm prepared for the next few weeks

Before completing the order, Thøger always applies Milcotec’s webshop-only discount code.

Simple, Fast – And Practical in Real Life

Ordering spare parts is easy, delivery options are flexible, and lead times are generally reliable. The only real challenge comes when something breaks late on a Friday.

But even then, Thøger has a solution:

“We usually manage with a temporary fix using wire, twine, or duct tape — and keep going.”

Experience, preparation, and the right spare parts supplier make all the difference.

Watch the Video: Thøger Larsen Tells His Story

In the video below, Thøger Larsen shares more about his farm, his experience with older Lely A2 robots, and why Milcotec has become his preferred partner.