SOLUTIONS What’s NEW? NEW ROTARY
An efficient rotary system
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illed as the trouble-free system that keeps on going, the GEA iFLOW rotary is the New Zealand made all-rounder when it comes to driving efficiencies onfarm. The iFLOW has a simple yet clever design, proven as a versatile and costeffective solution in a range of dairy farming environments. Perfect for retrofit and new build situations, the modular platform offers improved milking performance while remaining simple to operate and easy to maintain. The flexibility of the modular configuration allows farmers to customise the iFLOW to suit their farming needs, with options for basic automation to total
The GEA iFLOW rotary milking platform in use on a farm in Matamata.
herd management, adjustable neck rail positions and heights. It is available in a range from 28 to 100 clusters. One feature is the ability to reduce labour while increasing throughput, enabling just one operator to milk up to 600 cows. It is ideal for one-person operations or those looking to decrease worker load in the shed without affecting milk quality. The system is also future proof with automation upgrades such as automatic cup removers, automatic teat sprayers, milk metering, drafting and herd management easily added at any time. Simple and ergonomic, the iFLOW utilises nylon rollers every 600mm, doesn’t require a wear strip and has no
bearings - meaning less wear and tear and reduced maintenance costs. With the largest circumference drive wheels on the market, there’s less pressure on the beams to drive the platform, resulting in fewer maintenance issues than ‘steel on steel’ systems. In most circumstances, one annual service is required to keep the iFLOW operating at optimum performance. Whether dairy farmers are looking for increased cow throughput, reduced worker load, a simple yet reliable system that is low maintenance and futureproof, the GEA iFLOW rotary ticks all the requirements. • For more information visit www.gea.com
Four attributes of colostrum management
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t is critical that newborn ruminants receive colostrum in the first 24 hours after birth. This enables them to maximise absorption of antibodies from colostrum before gut closure occurs. Maximum absorption takes place as soon as possible after birth, whilst passive transfer of immunity (the process by which antibodies pass through the walls in the gut to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream) is also influenced by the quality, quantity and cleanliness of the colostrum fed to the newborn. Four attributes of colostrum management that increase the probability of your animals’ acquiring adequate levels of antibodies are: 88
• Quickly: The first feed of colostrum should be as soon as possible following birth, preferably within 1 to 2 hours. • Quality: Quality maternal colostrum should have a drymatter content of at least 22%. This can be measured using a Brix refractometer. If the colostrum is less than 22% MS, consider enriching it with AgriVantage’s Launchpad18 Colostrum Powder. • Quantity: Calves should receive a minimum of 100g of IgG. To account for variability in maternal colostrum quality and efficiency of absorption by calves, a minimum of 4L of maternal colostrum is recommended. • Cleanliness: It is vital that bacterial
contamination of colostrum is minimised during collection, storage and feeding of maternal colostrum. High bacterial levels not only pose a risk of causing disease in newborns, but also dramatically reduce the absorption of antibodies - meaning calves have less protection against disease. If colostrum is not fed within 1 to 2 hours of collection, it should be refrigerated or frozen. • For more information on the importance of colostrum for animal performance, how to ensure passive transfer of immunity and a guide to colostrum enrichment, visit http:// agrivantage.co.nz
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | June 2021
