Machinery and Products

Farmers flock to robotic dairy field day

By Jeanette Severs

Jul 18, 2023

Hosting the open day on their farm and representing Hillside Dairies were farm manager Luke Keen, with Sophie and Elizabeth, and the owners, Olivia, Katie, Alister and Isobel Clyne.

Dairy farmers were out in droves for the open day of a 16-bay robotic dairy — otherwise now known as a volunteer milking system, or VMS — on Wednesday, July 12.

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The open day was held on the dairy farm of Alister and Katie Clyne, at Tinamba, in Gippsland’s Macalister Irrigation District.

The new DeLaval system, which began operating the week following the open day, includes three compressors, a stabilised power supply, solar panels, automated detergent dispensing system and automated flood wash, and an overhead gantry way for maintenance, among other innovations.

The purpose-built shed comfortably houses 16 milking bays, an automated feeding system, and a new staff area and office.

The dairy platform itself will be in use 24 hours a day, with one person on call to deal with any alerts from the system.

Hundreds of dairy farmers from across Victoria attended the open day to see the new dairy, hear about the technology, and talk about the industry.