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.

Featured

Phoebe Scherer wins Bay of Plenty Young Grower 2025 title

A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.

IFSO urges flood-affected residents to document damage for insurance

Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.

New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor

Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.

Innovation takes centre stage at Fieldays 2025 awards event

Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.

DairyNZ lifts breakeven milk price forecast to $8.68 for 2025/26 season

According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.

Mud, Rain, and Roaring Engines: 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull thrills crowds despite weather

Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.

National

Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award

Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual…

New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate

A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in…

Hoggard slams outdated farm regulations

"We're trying to get to the promised land but we're still in a bit of a swamp at the moment."

Dairy farmer profits to hit record levels in 2025

The profitability of dairy farmers is likely to increase in the coming year, accordign to the latest report by the…

Fonterra R&D: Innovation needs more than just PhDs

Common sense and good human judgement are still a key requirement for the super highly qualified staff working at one…

Machinery & Products

Wrapped Silage Bales: Convenient feed storage with a mounting plastic problem

Wrapped bales arrived in the 1980s offering a viable alternative to clamp silage, and they remain a solution for those…

McKee Plastics celebrates 50 years of innovation at Fieldays 2025

Celebrating 50 years of being in business in 2025 and specialising in the design and manufacture of an extensive range…

John Deere upgrades round baler line with ISOBUS integration and smarter features

John Deere have recently announced upgrades to its round baler offerings, with all models of this latest generation equipped with…

Farming smarter with technology

The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry…

CNH appoints new NZ business manager amid new tax incentives for agricultural machinery

CNH continues to reinforce its position in the New Zealand agricultural machinery market with the appointment of John Gilbert, previously…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Visit archives

Super farm starts production

More like this

Dairy farmer profits to hit record levels in 2025

McIntyre thanks farmers as he prepares to bow out of Feds

Matt Bolger returns to Fonterra to lead co-operative affairs division

Bakers prefer butter, helping prices soar

Keeping a watch on dairy farms

Popular Reads

Open Country Dairy prepares to launch first commercial butter

Serratia-linked Mastitis a wake-up call for Waikato farmer

'Grand Alliance' growing grass-fed beef exports to China

Hoggard calls Canterbury high-country farming consenting process 'tragic'

Aussie farmers get A$8.60/kgMS as opening milk price

Featured

Phoebe Scherer wins Bay of Plenty Young Grower 2025 title

IFSO urges flood-affected residents to document damage for insurance

New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor

Innovation takes centre stage at Fieldays 2025 awards event

DairyNZ lifts breakeven milk price forecast to $8.68 for 2025/26 season

Mud, Rain, and Roaring Engines: 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull thrills crowds despite weather

National

Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award

New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate

Hoggard slams outdated farm regulations

Dairy farmer profits to hit record levels in 2025

Fonterra R&D: Innovation needs more than just PhDs

Machinery & Products

Wrapped Silage Bales: Convenient feed storage with a mounting plastic problem

McKee Plastics celebrates 50 years of innovation at Fieldays 2025

John Deere upgrades round baler line with ISOBUS integration and smarter features

Farming smarter with technology

CNH appoints new NZ business manager amid new tax incentives for agricultural machinery

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

110,000 visitors!

Sticky situation

» eNewsletter

Super farm starts production

More like this

» Latest Print Issues Online

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter