Lely

Crosby family - Lely Astronaut A3 - Australia

Robotic dairy comes alive
By ALISHA FOGDEN

SOUTH: Australia's first robotic dairy is up and running smoothly for the Crosby family at their 202-hectare Shellhaven property, near Lucindale. Lyn Crosby, Conmurra, said the two Lely Astronaut robotic milking systems have been online since May 3 and were milking up to 70 cows each a day.

The only issue Lyn said they have faced with the new technology was "training the cows to think as individuals not as a herd" to avoid congestion. "About 75 per cent of the cows are bringing themselves in from the paddock to get milked, but we do still have to round the stragglers up," she said. "Some cows have already taught themselves to come early in the morning to avoid the rush during the day."

Once in the dairy, Lyn said the cows have had no problems entering the robot to be milked. "Nothing bad happens to the cows once they are in the robot. They do take time to adapt but its not a long time, maybe a day," she said. Lyn said there has been overwhelming interest in the robots, with visitors to the farm daily. "Long-time dairyfarmers are just amazed at how the cows adapt," she said. Water and feed draws the cow into the robotic dairy to be milked. Once the gate closes and the cow is weighed, a pneumatic arm scoops under the cow and, through the use of lasers, the teats are brush-cleaned and suction cups are attached.

Each quarter of the udder is milked individually negating under or over milking - and if there are any irregularities with the milk, it is relegated to a bucket system where eg colostrum milk for calves and antibiotic milk from mastitis cows is separated. While in the robot, the cow's neck tag is read for its individual ration of hay and feed concentrates, dependent on stage of lactation. Once milked, the cow's teats are disinfected while the cups are automatically cleaned, ready for the next cow.

Cows are milked 2-3 times a day, with some of the Crosbys' Holstein Friesians producing up to 40 litres each a day. The milk is supplied to Warrnambool Cheese and Butter, where it is classed as premium quality milk.

According to manufacturer Lely Australia, the robots not only increase production and improve cow health, but also reduce labour costs substantially. It is estimated that one person could be responsible for 1.2 million litres annually. The farmer's life is also more flexible, with non-structured milking times.

Lely service manager Jan Irzyk said, for first-time dairyfarmers, the Crosbys were handling the technology exceptionally well. "They have nearly no problem with mastitis, which is fairly common in that environment, and their cows are healthy because of a well-managed feed program," he said. There are three dairies using the technology nationally. Mr Irzyk said there were another four operations planned across Australia, including one in the Mount Gambier region.

Lyn Crosby, pictured with son Bill, says the two Lely Astronaut A3 robotic milking systems installed on their dairy farm near Lucindale are in operation and milking up to 70 cows each a day