An innovative farm system combining automated milking with
grazing
J. JAGO, P. COPEMAN, K. BRIGHT, D. McLEAN, I. OHNSTAD AND M.
WOOLFORD
Dexcel Ltd, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand.
E-Mail:
NZSAP 2002 Abstract No. 30
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62:
115-119
The harvesting of raw milk for the New Zealand dairy industry is
a labour intensive process. Technology to completely automate the
milk-harvesting process has been developed in Europe and is operating on
an increasing number of commercial farms in several countries. A
research programme has been established at Dexcel to develop innovative
pasture-based farm systems utilising existing automated milking
technology. A new farm layout was designed and implemented on a 10 ha
farmlet. The land was radially subdivided into eight paddocks leading to
a central collection area. A 200-m two-way race extended between the
collection area and a small waiting yard adjoining a Fullwood Merlin
automated milking system (AMS). Water was only available in the central
collection area, the holding yard and as cows exited the AMS. Cows had
access to the AMS for 24h/day where they received a maximum of 2kg
concentrate/24h. A herd of 41 mixed-age cows was milked in the farm
system. Data for a 14-day period in October when cows had settled into
the system were analysed. Cows voluntarily visited the AMS 2.7 times/24h
and were milked 2.3 times/24h. Visits were distributed over 24h with the
lowest number of visits occurring between 0330 and 0600. Cows
demonstrated remarkable adaptability in a distributed AMS and there
appears to be considerable potential for AMS within New Zealand’s
pasture-based farming system.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
automatic milking systems; grazing; dairy cows; behaviour;
milking frequency; milking interval
Last Updated 30/07/2002
