30 | Leah Murray has embraced technology Its 780 F12 crossbred cows, separated into two herds, are milked through a three year-old 60 bale rotary platform. Russell Fredric CowManager and a DeLaval milking system have been integral to the Murray farm’s operation since the systems were installed three seasons ago. Leah Murray, this year’s Dairy Industry Awards Otago/Southland Dairy Farm Manager of the Year winner, says CowManager is producing great results. She manages her parent’s Alistair and Hazel Murray’s farm on rolling hill country near Mataura, Southland. It covers a total of 442 hectares effective, comprising the dairy platform, a run-off and winter crop paddocks, running as a system three to four operation. Its 780 F12 crossbred cows, separated into two herds, are milked through a three year-old 60 bale rotary platform with in-shed feed, and a DeLaval E100 milking system. Among its features, the E100 has bails that hide the wires, pipes, and technology, integrating them into the bail, plus the ability to slow the platform for an individual cow to finish milking without it doing another round. “It maximises the efficiency of the milking,” Leah says. Other technology includes automatic cup removers, teat spray, milk metres, automatic milk line draining and automatic drafting which links to CowManager in addition to the DeLaval DelPro farm management platform which collates various data sources together, processes, analyses them to produce valuable information. CowManager’s ear sensor live data includes temperature, feeding, ruminating, general activity and heat detection, transmitted among 14 aerials with solar panels around the farm. “Dad thought it was a great option that suited our farm and also linking in with the milking shed was a great bonus for us. We bought the tags ourselves, instead of leasing like with the collars.” CowManager also links to LIC’s Minda herd management system which includes the history of each cow. The farm’s nutritionist has access to the appropriate data which is crucial during calving because they can assess the cows’ rumination and if anything is lacking. The system also monitors the transition of and on crops, plus pre and post calving. Alistair is still involved with work on the farm which employs a herd manager, a full-time milker, and a casual calf rearer, with Leah overseeing the RURAL PEOPLE » Leah Murray dairy platform including pasture management, staff, and contractors. “Through spring we’re on a tight rotation planner until about the end of September/early October and we go into a 28 day round and then a 21 day round when growth exceeds demand.” The dairy platform is divided into about 45 paddocks; Leah measures the grass cover with a Milking Systems & Automation Robotic Milking Systems Cow Barns DeLaval Inservice Milk Quality Specialists Dairy Supplies Farm Water Eluent Systems Water Pumps & Filtration Domestic & Commercial Plumbing Drain Laying & Gas Fitting 85 Bill Richardson Drive, Invercargill, Southland Phone: (03) 214-3136 plate metre weekly. “It’s a great way just to check the farm and you can get your eye in as well. Into calving you want to be sitting around that 3000 [kg DM/ha - kilograms of dry matter per hectare] and then leaving behind 1500, but it all depends on your weather.” Calving on the Murray farm started on August 5 during favourable conditions, but September brought a typical Southland spring comprising a mixture of rain, wind, and snow, but with some brief fine breaks which “really helped immensely but the cows enjoy that sunshine as well. It gets things into gear.” “The grass probably didn’t come away as much as we’d like but the cows still kept going into peak so were still sitting pretty good.” 022 646 1959 www.hargestagri.com • ROUND BALING • SQUARE BALING • DRILLING We are committed to delivering cost-e ective, friendly and e cient service throughout Southland & Otago.
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