A new 50 bale rotary milking shed complimented by high tech electronic accessories has been a significant investment for the Northland dairy farmers Edwin, Ben and Hamish Smith, whose family has farmed the 100 effective Ha dairy farm near Hikurangi for four generations. 

Ben now heads up the operation after earning a B. Agr. Sc. from Massey University and spending several years in rural banking.  “The whole idea is to future proof our enterprise – we have now built a platform which will allow us to make the most of technology.  Good planning was the key and we worked with a number of professionals to plan and build the new shed and electronic system.  Our vets from Piano Hill Veterinary Services, Zee Tags Ltd and Tru Test have been really involved in the whole process.”

All cows are identified with Zee Tags Electronic ID because they are easy to apply and read really well.  There is one reader as the cows enter the shed and another one when they exit over the Tru Test walk over weighing system and through the automatic drafting system.  Milfos milk meters and auto cup removers are used and Protrack, from LIC installed to pull all the elements of the electronic system together. 

The new system is a great time and labour saver.  It used to take 2 ½ hours to milk 320 cows through the 30 aside herringbone; now takes just over 60 mins to milk the 420 split calving herd.  The cows are relaxed – the shed is quiet and relaxed and some of them even go to sleep on the platform. 

Ben says “We chose Zee Tags electronic tags because John Ritchie from Zee Tags has been there for us - helping plan the system and ensure that the tags are what we want.  We also use Zee Tags new Duramark for our visual management tags and they are a big improvement on the old tags we had – they stay clean and clear.  The tagger itself makes a big difference – so easy to use and you don’t rip ears, waste tags or hurt yourself using them.”

Ben is equally impressed by the Tru Test walk over weighing system which he understands will have the ability to draft out lame cows automatically by recognizing that they are not applying equal pressure to each limb.  This will allow the Smith’s to administer help to them quickly and therefore reduce production loss.” 

But what Ben likes the most is the data provided for both day to day and long term strategic management.  There is no such thing as an average cow on our property now and we can challenge some of our traditional thinking based on data – we know each cow’s details and can manage her accordingly.  Feeding levels can be adjusted to favour the high producers, weight loss or drops in milk production are picked up and adjustments made. 

Cows with withholding periods or in the colostrums mob come up with a red band on the shed control panel and the system verbally instructs the milkers not to milk the cow -reducing the chances of inhibitory substances entering the system.  Traceability is greatly enhanced and all the vet treatments are done to exact bodyweight again increasing efficiency. 

Ben says it’s pretty awesome that his and Hamish’s parents have invested their retirement funds in the new technology but already it is paying dividends.  The increased production and decrease in labour and other costs means they will have paid off the capital cost a lot shorter time than initially expected.

Conservatively the Smith’s are aiming for 1500 ms/ha this season from a base of 1285ms/ha last season – the biggest problem is the cost to purchase more Fonterra shares to supply the extra production!