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The dairy shed control panel.
Waikato Milking Systems cluster.
The platform viewed from the pit.
Waikato Milking Systems cluster and automatic cup removers. Avon Lea’s second in charge, Levi Catapang.
“In a ÿ rst, we installed Waikato Milking System’s unique Orbitor Gland main centre swivel. In contrast to standard centre-glands, the Orbitor Rotary Gland transports seven services in a single unit – milk, wash water, vacuum, in-bail teat spray, milk recovery, skirt and wall wash and electrical, with capacity to add other chemicals or services in the future. “In the past two glands would have been needed to transport those services; the ease of installation of the Orbitor Rotary Gland cuts four days from the install.”
Covid delays Andy recalls the conversion started in November 2019 soon after they took over the farm. “I did all the lane and paddock design and all the fencing. ° e new dairy is situated in the centre of the farm, and local earthmoving
Entrance way on to platform.
contractors developed the site, e˛ uent ponds and lanes. “° e conversion was well underway in March 2020 when Covid hit and the site was, for a short time, closed for around seven weeks through lockdown. “In that same week, however, we also got notiÿ cation that some of the cows we had purchased were potential carriers of M. bovis. “Fortunately, after four weeks of testing, all cows were found clear of M. bovis but the uncertainty didn’t help our stress levels at the time!” FIL area manager for South Canterbury and North Otago, Kirk Falconer, says FIL provides Andy with a tailored, cost-e˝ ective range of New Zealand made detergents and teat sprays to speciÿ cally suit the requirements of his farm and animals. Andy uses Quantum Red and Quantum
Powder dairy detergents and Iodoshield Active teat spray. “We also undertake regular shed inspections and provide trouble-shooting assistance and sta˝ training on such things as mastitis management,” says Kirk. “FIL prides itself on empowering our clients with knowledge via sta˝ training to prevent a lot of the problems farmers commonly see in their sheds. Our approach, to prevent rather than react, is one that delivers real value to our clients.” ° e electrical ÿ t-out of the new dairy was conducted by Calect Electrical, which provides a comprehensive range of electrical services across homes, farms, dairy sheds and irrigation systems in the Waitaki Basin and Mackenzie Country area. Andy and Liz Hayes say that despite the challenges that 2020 presented with Covid
and M. bovis, the new dairy was completed on time. “° e three new houses we added to the farm were completed one month late but the dairy was up and running in time for calving,” says Andy.
Easy to operate “We’re really pleased with the new dairy. It’s a great shed; a lot of it comes down to the way the cows ˙ ow onto and o˝ the platform. “° e farm team like it – it’s sheltered from the prevailing wind, easy to operate and, overall, a pleasure to milk in. “Having two sheds that, other than platform size, are virtually identical makes it easy for sta˝ to move from one farm to the other if and when required. Currently, in the new shed, it takes one person around 3.5 hours to milk 1000 cows.”
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0800 577 583 | www.morrisonagri.co.nz
