Volume 127 I October 17th, 2022 I email:agined@agrihq.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@agrihq.co.nz
If you grew up in a city would you have realised that dairy farming could be an option as a career? Sophie Cookson was that child, growing up in the city she always loved animals and knew she would like to work with them. The options for jobs with animals was seemingly limited to things like vets, vet nurses, rescue organisations and grooming. Sophie chose to study vet nursing and completed her diploma at Otago Polytechnic. Sophie and her partner later moved onto contract milking and then sharemilking.
Robo dairy fiction or fact?
To read more about her journey head to https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/ dairying-a-natural-fit-for-city-girl-witha-love-of-animals/ and then answer the following questions. 1
Where did Sophie grow up?
2 Where in NZ are Sophie and her partner currently sharemilking? 3 How many cows do they milk?
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1
What is their MS/cow (milk solids per cow)?
2 They are in the top 1% nationally for BW and PW. What does this mean? 3 How did they manage to grow their equity whilst contract milking?
An enormous robotic milking operation has been developed in Chile with intentions to expand the already sizeable operation.
4 Sophie also has a role as a after sales training specialist for Senztag for cow manager. What is Senztag? 5 Donovan also has a role/job off farm. What is this?
New technology using sexed semen may help produce a calf that has more value to both the dairy and beef sectors Recently there has been a lot of talk about and some changes made to regulations and best practice regarding bobby calves. ST Genetics NZ has released technology that may help to curb some of the ongoing issues surrounding bobby calves. To find out more head to https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/ new-boys-in-town-as-male-sexed-semen-offers-control/ 1
What is a bobby calf?
2 Why would being able to choose to breed male calves (alongside replacement heifers) be beneficial to dairy farmers? 3 What are the attributes of the breeds of bulls used that make them ideal for crossing over dairy cows? 4 How will following some of the calves through the supply chain be valuable? What kind of information do you think they will collect?
Mooving on up
MOOVING ON UP Herd
Protein Cow Heifer Milk Fat Milk Powder Butter Cheese Milk Robotics Milk Solids
Artificial Insemination Lactation Mastitis
Holstein Friesian Herringbone Shed Milking Ayrshire Crossbred Jersey
To read more about it head to: https://www. farmersweekly.co.nz/robots-of-scale-at-worldsbiggest-robo-dairy/
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How many cows are they currently milking?
2 How many robots currently carry out the milking?
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There are plans in place to expand the operation, what sort of numbers are they planning for?
2 They believe that there have been benefits with the robotic system. What are these? 3 They have an average of 45 litres of milk per cow daily. Do some research, how does this compare to NZ statistics? 4 When did the Heller’s begin dairy farming? When did they start using robotics? 5 What are some of the other diversifications and business opportunities that Agrícola Ancali are involved in? 6 Do you think that robotic milking is viable here in NZ? Why or why not?