Reclaiming time with the Lely Discovery Collector - Story of the Vening family

On the Vening family's dairy farm in South Gippsland, the Lely Discovery Collector has made a big difference to their daily lives, according to Lisa and her son Shawn Vening.   

Working diligently, the Lely Collector manure-cleaning robot automatically keeps their dairy shed clean 24/7 while giving back more time to Lisa and Shawn for what matters most - their family.

More Time for Family, Less Stress  

Since installing the Collector, mornings on the Vening farm have become noticeably calmer. “We can take our time in the morning so we can have a sleep in, have breakfast, and we don't have to rush to get to the dairy anymore”, Lisa says. 

“We save over three hours a day in cleaning,” Lisa continues. “Now we’ve got the Collector going, the water savings are huge, but time is the biggest change. We have a life back without cleaning every day”.

With the Collector taking care of most of the cleanup, Shawn said that his mornings have become more relaxed, allowing him to be at home with his daughters and get them ready for school, instead of rushing down to the dairy.

When the Venings upgraded their farm to robotic milking, installing the Discovery Collector was a natural step that “was all part of the process,” Lisa adds. “We wanted to make life easier for everyone on the farm.”

Quick installation, Smooth operation

The family has been running their Collector for nearly a year. “Installation was simple. We had it pre-planned for the shed, and the techs had it up and running in a day,” Lisa recalls. “The cows don’t mind it at all; they hardly notice it’s there.”

Unlike traditional cleaning, which would require manual work, the Collector runs automatically 24 hours a day. Each side of the shed takes just 15-20 minutes for the robot to clean, and notifications through the Lely Horizon app alert the Venings only if maintenance is needed.

“There’s minimal maintenance,” Lisa explains. “We only need to wash it down occasionally because we use tank water. Otherwise, it’s easier than having a person here to manage the cleaning.”

Efficiency and sustainability in one step

Beyond giving the family more personal time, the Collector has delivered measurable improvements in water and labour management. It’s a practical example of how automation can enhance daily life on a dairy farm, letting farmers focus on their cows, their families, and the parts of the business that matter most.

For the Venings, the Discovery Collector isn’t just a piece of machinery, it’s a tool that supports balance, efficiency, and wellbeing on the farm.

Shawn is confident in recommending the system. “If anyone’s thinking about getting a Collector, I wouldn’t hesitate. We’ve had no problems, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”