Len and Paul have enjoyed a long, working partnership for the past 28 years on Len’s 57 hectare property in Taupaki, where Paul 50/50 share-milks 170 mixed breed dairy cows. And in 2015, they were introduced to the many benefits of utilising a Lely robotic milking system.
Feb. 21, 2017
News
With the success of a long term business partnership like Len and Paul’s, trust is paramount. Luckily so, as Len had been thinking about robotics for a long time and when the decision was made to retire the properties tired 24 aside Herringbone shed and build a shed to house 3 Lely Astronaut A4 robotic milking machines Paul had to put his trust in Len that it would pay-off. And pay-off it has! Now experiencing the best production ever, which Paul states is “far surpassing expectations... the production we’re getting out of the cows is way more than I thought we could ever do”.
Always looking to the future Len was convinced that robotics would work on his farm and that the benefits would far exceed those of the old setup. With only 16 cows out of 170 milking twice a day, or less (averaging 2.6 milking per day) he is fairly confident in saying; “the system is working well, it is amazing us even” says Len. There is even one cow producing 10.6 litres, 4 times a day.
Len and Paul utilise a winter milking program on-farm and after only a few months of working with the robots, they are facing a new problem… “How do you dry a cow off when they’re still producing 14 litres of milk, plus she’s going to calve soon?” says Paul. Not a bad problem to have, we admit.
Paul’s cows have become so accustomed to the robotic milking system in such a short amount of time, that Paul is not afraid to leave them to their own devices. “Knowing the cows are being milked while I’m away gives the perfect opportunity to be off the farm, without having to employ someone [to milk]” states Paul.
Paul also acknowledges the crucial support and assistance of wife Leanne and daughter Ashlee, as their skills and knowledge to oversee the robotic system, analyse data and act when required. Paul now has the confidence to leave the farm in both the robots and their hands when required.
With the Lely Astronaut robotic milking system optimising Lely T4C technology, the only dedicated farm management system for robotic milking, Paul can rest assured that his herd is being managed efficiently. Paul is provided with all the data he needs, through the systems many sensors, including; cow weight, rumination minutes, cow activity, fat/protein indicators, milk production, feed intake, milking time and number of visits to the robots, to list a few. All these points are analysed and presented in a clear and useful manner.
The Lely robotic milking system utilises the ABC grazing system, where cows alternate between three races within a 24 hour period, meaning less pressure on the land and more recovery time for pasture between grazing’s. Gates automatically change between races at 6.30am, 2.30pm and 10.30pm each day. “I now know what my cows are doing and have time to manage grazing”. With 5 hectares allocated on-farm, plus another 5 hectares allocated off-farm, for maize, Paul is busy adjusting to his new job as ‘Landlubber’, stating – “[the] computer takes care of the cows, now I can take care of the land”.
Len and Paul made the joint decision to go with Lely due to the trust they held in the brand’s reputation. They knew teething problems of general robotic milking systems were dramatically reduced with the Lely robotic milking system. Happy with their choice and the support provided by Lely Center Hamilton, Len and Paul “can’t see anything wrong with the system”. Paul even goes on to state he “can’t believe what his cows have done” and that he’s “gotta stop rubbing it in to people that I don’t milk anymore”.
For more information on how the Lely Astronaut robotic milking system can give you the opportunity to brag to your mates, call Lely New Zealand today – 0800 LELY NZ.