It's been eight months since Willows Pastoral began operating under an automatic dairy milking system.
Farm owners Nigel and Jess McNeil now milk their 200 cows with the help of Nigel’s dad, Wayne, using their four GEA DairyRobot R9500s in their upgraded facility.
The McNeil family started farming in Murrabit, near Kerang in northern Victoria, 80 years ago.
As Wayne prepared for retirement, Nigel took over the dairy farm, recognising the need to upgrade their existing dairy facility, which required two operators.
The main goals were to manage labour shortages as Wayne exited the farm and transitioned into retirement, maintain premium milk quality with low cell counts, and achieve a better work-life balance.
Nigel chose the GEA DairyRobot R9500 for its compact design, which easily integrated into their current facility.
The GEA DairyRobot R9500 was the perfect solution due to its small footprint, ease of integration, and labour-saving benefits.
The technology also represents a significant leap forward in sustainable dairy farming practices.
This automatic milking system offers up to 19 per cent energy savings, reduced water consumption, and shorter milking times compared to the predecessor model, making it both economical and environmentally friendly.
“We only need one supply unit to connect four boxes, sharing equipment and reducing system complexity,” Nigel said.
Its In-Liner Everything technology ensures high milk quality by performing every step of the milking process within a single attachment, maintaining hygiene and efficiency.
The DairyNet App herd management system allows the McNeils to monitor cow data and system parameters anytime, anywhere.
Nigel has also decided to integrate the CowScout herd management system to optimise cow health, heat detection and reproductive management.
“The data we get is incredibly helpful. It makes managing the herd so much easier and more efficient."
Wayne now enjoys the flexibility of running the farm solo on weekends, while Nigel can spend more time with Jess and their three children, confident that the milking robots are handling the cows efficiently.
Their story is an inspiring example of embracing innovation to create a sustainable and efficient farming future, preserving their legacy and enhancing the farming lifestyle for future generations.
On July 9, the McNeil family opened their doors to about 80 visitors, including farmers, suppliers, industry enthusiasts and partners.
The visitors had a chance to see the GEA robotic milking system in action and hear from the farm owners about the challenges and opportunities they encountered while transforming their facility into an automatic milking dairy with a digital herd management system.
Representatives from the GEA Farm Technologies and Dairy Technology Services Kyabram dealership, who supplied and installed the milking system, co-organised the event and were available to answer questions related to farming equipment and solutions.
The day was filled with learning, knowledge exchange and engaging conversation.