Friday, 03 October 2014 18:24

Super farm starts production

Written by Sudesh Kissun

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

The world's biggest robotic dairy farm under one roof has started production in South Canterbury.

The Van Leeuwen Group- owned by Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen – has spent $22 million on the farm - it will milk 1500 cows and operate 24 DeLaval robots.

Production started last month; half of the barn is in operation with 12 robots. Contractors are working on installing the remaining 12 DeLaval robots.

Aad van Leeuwen expects the barn to be fully operational by Christmas.

Feed bunkers on the side of the barn can hold 4.5 million kg of dry matter.

Milk production is expected to top 1.2 million kgMS. Van Leeuwen expects production per cow to top 750kg.

* Read the full story in Dairy News October 13th issue.

More like this

Bakers prefer butter, helping prices soar

Consumers around the world are willing to pay more for products containing dairy and this is driving demand for butter and cream, says Fonterra.

Keeping a watch on dairy farms

OPINION: Dairy farmers are under increasing pressure to safeguard their livestock, equipment and operations from a range of security threats.

Inconvenient truth

OPINION: You would've missed this one if you rely on mainstream media for your news, but your old mate reckons credit should go where credit's due: Emissions by dairy cattle decreased by 1.6% according to the latest NZ Greenhouse Gas Inventory report.

Taranaki dairy farms saved by $10/kgMS payout

Only this season’s $10/kgMS bumper payout has saved some dairy farms along the Taranaki coast from absolute disaster due to the present drought – dubbed as one of the worst ever for some.

Sheep milk cheddar named NZ’s top cheese

New Zealand’s top cheeses for 2025 have been announced and family-owned, Oamaru-based Whitestone Cheese is the big winner.

Featured

Apples and Pears NZ to focus on boosting grower returns

The CEO of Apples and Pears NZ, Karen Morrish, says the strategic focus of her organisation is to improve grower returns.

NZ scientists make breakthrough in Facial Eczema research

A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.

LIC Space folds for good

Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

2024–25 apple harvest exceeds expectations, says Apples and Pears NZ CEO

The 2024-25 season apple harvest has “well and truly exceeded expectations”, says Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Karen Morrish.

Fieldays 2025 unveils new sustainability initiatives with industry partners

Through collaborative efforts with exhibitors, visitors, and industry partners, Fieldays says it is reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility with new initiatives for 2025.