Lely showcases products

Dookie have had robots in operation for the past 14 years, attendees were looking at all aspects of the robot system and how it could fit into their own business.

The Rushton family from Benlock Jerseys in Rochester recently installed robots to work alongside their grazing system.

There was a large crowd in attendance who were interested to look at how the family converted its existing system to include robots.

Amazingly, the Rushtons were able to continue to milk in their dairy while the robots were installed around them.

The Dee family at Macorna had a smaller, but targeted audience, who were all interested in looking at the eight robots housed in their barn system.

Their system has been in operation for five years.

“We wanted farmers to have an opportunity to see what products we have available and see how automation can fit into any dairy system, and we certainly have variety here in northern Victoria,” Ebony said.

She said while there was always a bit of trepidation around milk price, people were willing to invest capital in innovation.

“Robots have been around long enough, and they are seen as something that is accessible for any farmer and their system.

“They can help take away some of the labour issues allowing farmers to re-focus their energies to other areas of their business, and they’ve also been a ready option to people who want to stay in the industry but don’t have the next generation coming through.

“Automation can be built into any business in many different ways from greenfield sites to fitting into existing infrastructure, and it doesn’t matter whether you graze or not, robots are successful in either, or a combination of these systems.”

Ebony said the Lely Service Centre in Echuca had a range of automated products from CALM calf feeders, Juno feed pushers, manure collectors and their latest innovation — an automatic milk filter that no longer uses filter socks.