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The GEA robotic milkers offer batch and voluntary milking.
Milking technology provider GEA Farm Technologies is introducing its first automatic milking system (AMS) in New Zealand.
Designed for herds of all sizes, the robotic milking systems – the Dairy- Robot R9500, DairyProQ rotary, and the all-new DairyRobot R9600 and R9650 - offer batch and voluntary milking.
GEA Farm Technologies NZ head of sales and service, Craig Lowry, says that following the launch this month, his team are in talks with potential customers.
“We are very excited to be launching AMS in New Zealand,” he told Rural News.
“GEA has already had success with robotic milking on pasture-based farms in Australia, and we’re looking forward to replicating this locally.”
Lowry points out that GEA’s ‘In-Liner Everything’ technology is the main difference to other robotic machines available in the country.
The technology completes the entire milking process in one attachment, he adds.
“From teat stimulation to teat spraying, and everything in between, the advanced milking solution minimises movements and maximises efficiency,” Lowry says.
“Designed to speed up milking and allow more milkings per box per day, it also reduces operating costs. A camera detects the shape and position of the cow’s teats and precisely attaches the cups in a matter of seconds. Should the cow kick, a feedback mechanism enables the milking arm to move away and start the attachment process again.”
The system measures milk yield and quality in real time as miking progresses, allowing the farmer to monitor each cow’s production and identify health or performance issues early. After milking the system automatically applies teat spray through the same milking cluster. Once each milking is complete, the inside and outside of the teat cups are flushed and cleaned. The attachment camera is also cleaned.
Lowry points out that GEA offers two approaches to automatic milking – batch milking and voluntary milking.
Batch milking refers to milking cows in groups at set times throughout the day. Lowry says this is a practice Kiwi dairy farmers know well.
He adds that over the past decade, GEA has added a modern twist by fusing automatic milking with a conventional daily routine and feeding management.
“Batch milking combines the predictability of traditional methods with the efficiency of automation, aligning with New Zealand’s pasture-based farming principles. It’s about giving farmers the best of both worlds: the timesaving and lifestyle perks of modern technology, while staying in control with a fixed milking routine.”
Lowry says one of the biggest benefits of batch milking is that it saves labour in the shed, allowing staff to focus on others farm tasks.
“Conventional milking has proven its worth over the years, but it can be hard work and requires skilled staff. Automated batch milking offers a solution to these challenges, ensuring the job is always done right but with less effort.”
Lowry says with the current labour issues faced on farm, GEA is confident that farmers would welcome the DairyRobot.
He says events are being planned in the new year to showcase the technology around the country.
The GEA robotic machines are designed to integrate into any farm setup and current infrastructure.
“Whether you are milking a small herd or running a large operation, we have got a robot layout and option to match,” says Lowry.
Massey Ferguson has announced a strategic supply partnership with International Tractors Limited (ITL), a manufacturer of low-horsepower and compact tractors, with recognised brands such as Sonalika and Sollis, to expand its portfolio with a new tractor range.
With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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