Numedic buys Cobra irrigators
Numedic Ltd has acquired a major part of Waikato Milking Systems' effluent and environmental business, including the well-known Cobra range of travelling rain gun irrigators.
Waikato farmer Malcolm Jones’ 450 crossbred cows were milked three times a day in a herringbone shed until last year.
The shed, on an adjacent family property on the outskirts of Matamata, served two herds, “my brother-in-law’s which went through in the morning and mine in the evening,” says Jones.
“While this worked well for both of us, it wasn’t sustainable long term and so in 2014 we decided to build a 54-bail rotary on our 150ha farm.”
The existing herringbone was from Waikato Milking Systems (WMS) so the Jones knew the company, its products and service. Jones says WMS sheds are known to be well designed, robust, easy care and don’t need much servicing.
“We wanted to have only one person in the dairy so we opted for a 54-bail Orbit rotary platform with SmartECRs (automatic cup removers) and SmartSpray (teat spraying).
“The new dairy was commissioned in November 2014 and we were pleased with how quickly the cows settled to the rotary platform.
“The new rotary has made a huge difference to the ease of running this farm. The automatic cup removers and automatic teat spraying allowed one person to comfortably milk 450 cows for the balance of the 2014 season and it will easily handle 550 in 2015-16.
“You have high expectations of quality and service when you invest in a new dairy,” Jones says. “WMS has delivered on both counts: their products are well designed, price competitive and robust.”
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.
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