Friday, 14 June 2013 14:34

Making milking easy

Written by 

INSTALLING ADF in his new herringbone dairy shed was a “no brainer” according to dairy farmer Mark Williams when he converted his sheep farm to dairy in July 2012. 

 

Mark and wife Kelsey own a 100ha, 600 Friesian cow dairy farm and a 80ha cropping farm, in Burnham, Canterbury.

The ADF (automatic dipping and flushing) system aims to reduce mastitis and its spread amongst the herd by automatically spraying the teats while the cups are still on the udder, directly after milking, while the teat canal is still open. After removal every liner is automatically rinsed. Within 20 seconds from the end of milking, the cluster is ready for the next cow. 

It was over the breakfast table that Williams first learned about ADF when a friend handed him an ADF brochure. He then called ADF who took him to see a farm with the system installed just down the road. 

“The farmer spoke highly of his ADF system so I took the bank manager for a look. He said ‘why don’t all dairy farmers have this?’ so from that point it was let’s do it, let’s go.

From installation in July 2012 Williams hasn’t looked back. “Our cell counts average around 120,000 and we’re only having to deal with one case of mastitis a week. I attribute this success to ADF. “Our staff love ADF too, so much that they’ve said they wouldn’t milk again in a shed without ADF. 

“That’s because it makes their life so much easier. Manual teat spraying would be a problem where we are; it’s windy a lot of the time so it would blow in all directions risking the teat being missed and you’d end up using more chemicals. The automatic dipping after milking ensures the teat is fully coated. 

Tel. 0800 233 645 

Featured

Farmers urged to prepare as heavy rain looms

With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.

National

Machinery & Products

Fliegl offers effluent solutions

Founded in Germany as recently as 1977, today, the Fliegl Group employs more than 1100 workers, offering an expansive range…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter