"What’s it gonna be in the future? To me I think it's robotic milking."

Michael and Jodie Connor, along with their children, currently manage two family dairies on the Fleurieu Peninsula. One of these farms is the Minbee Farm, located in Mt. Jagged, where a six Lely A5 robotic dairy was installed in 2021. Jake Connor works as the overall farm manager, overseeing the pastures and cattle on both dairies and Chelsea, who describes herself as an animal lover, oversees the calf rearing and animal health. The other farm Nangkita Dairies started up with 8 Lely Astronaut A5 milking robots a couple years later in October 2023. This interview and video was taken before the start-up of their 2nd Robotic Dairy Farm.

Jake and Michael describe how much the data gathering features of the Lely Astronaut appeals to them. The benefits they describe range from the milk fat & protein percentage indication, gathered from each cow, along with cell count, feeding, rumination, milk quality and milk quantity information. Utilising this additional data, in conjunction with their existing information, has allowed the Connor family to improve production by giving them more control in the dairy and optimising feed per cow.