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.
The first 84-bail composite Waikato Milking Systems rotary platform built in the US has won an energy efficiency award.
Cow Pleasant Dairy, owned by Tom and Katrien De Vos, Isabella County, Michigan, was named Large Business of the Year by Consumers Energy, the electricity and natural gas utility in Michigan.
Originally from Belgium, the De Vos family set out to innovate in developing their 3450 cow dairy; notably they chose to install the WMS rotary.
Tom De Vos said “we liked the concept of a composite platform which is extraordinarily strong yet light, easy to keep clean and energy efficient”.
The set-up has the maker’s SmartECR, SmartPuls, SmartLink and SmartWash systems, and electronic milk meters, auto sorting and herd management technology.
The dairy also has a direct-load milk cooling system which cools milk from 95oC to 36oC before it goes to a trailer parked outside the parlor; this removes the need for a bulk milk tank. When full, the trailer is taken to the processor and an empty trailer takes its place.v
De Vos says the system is efficient system, has minimal risk of bacteria, preserves the quality of the milk and cuts water use.
These and other features including fans which cool the cows and LED lighting led to the company being named the Large Business of the Year with energy rebates worth more than $US117,000.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
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