| 7 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Bruce Dinnington Once again embraced cutting-edge technology KarenPhelps Southland dairy farmer Bruce Dinnington has once again embraced cutting-edge technology adding the Lely Discovery robotic vacuum cleaner to his already advanced robotic plant. Installed in his barn in July 2024, the Lely Discovery Collector has transformed manure management on his farm, keeping floors cleaner and cows healthier. “They have taken off in Europe big time so it made sense to install it in our barn,” says Bruce Dinnington. “It was always on our minds since we built the barn. It’s keeping the floors significantly cleaner, which means the cows’ feet are cleaner. Their beds are also cleaner and dryer because they aren’t trekking stuff in there.” Bruce explains that the improved hygiene is already showing tangible results. “We are seeing udder health benefits including less mastitis. Somatic cell count has dropped by 50,000– 80,000 over the winter months.” Bruce is the first farmer in Australasia to adopt the technology and he says installation was straightforward. “Lely comes in and installs it. The process is simple: we discuss the installation requirements, place the charging station, programme the routes, and about a week later they follow up to assess performance.” Unlike traditional scraping systems, the Discovery Collector uses a vacuum-based approach. It collects manure rather than pushing it, making build-up a thing of the past. The compact, low-hindrance design allows the robot to navigate tight spaces, cross alleys and even areas in front of the milking system without cables or gutters. Water spraying from the front aids manure collection, while rear sprays improve floor grip, contributing to a safe and hygienic barn. “The routes and cleaning frequency can be set to match either my or the cows’ daily rhythm. I can adjust everything on my mobile phone.” Based in Dacre and now in his third generation on the farm, Bruce remains an advocate for robotic systems. Bruce milks his herd of 350 Friesian cows with the Astronaut robotic milking system. His suite of robotic technology also includes a Lely Calm automatic calf feeder and a Juno automatic feed pusher. “The robots feed grain, soy, and molasses in a production-based system. Big milking cows get what they need, and the poorer milking cows get smaller amounts. With the old rotary shed, all cows got the same feed regardless,” he explains. The addition of the Discovery Collector complements the herd’s automated routine. Cows move freely between four paddock blocks every six hours, self-regulating their milking and feeding schedules. “Because they walk in and out at their own pace, Proud to support Bruce Dinnington Contact the team at Rogers 84 Leet street, Invercargill 032189584 www.rogersyamaha.co.nz 60+ no bull, real world pricing. the smart farm choi ce. “The revolutionary manure cleaner.” Lely Discovery Collector Traditional cleaning is a drain on your time and your water supply. The Lely Discovery Collector vacuums manure to keep your shed spotless 24/7 Work smarter, not harder Find out more on lely.com/nz/solutions/manure/discovery-collector Get in touch on lely.com/nz/about-lely/contact/ they don’t get the same leg and foot issues either,” says Bruce. He enjoys the flexibility the technology provides. “I just have to change the filter sock in the morning and then I’m free until the next day. I can be off or on farm and still manage everything efficiently.” Based in Dacre and now in his third generation on the farm, Bruce remains an advocate for robotic systems. His production has risen from 560 kilograms of milk solids per cow to 750 kilograms. “Kiwis haven’t quite got their heads around it yet. With robotics gaining momentum overseas, farmers here are missing a huge opportunity. The Lely Discovery has only reinforced that, making our cows healthier and our operation more profitable.”
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