Robotic Rotary Milking: Inside a $6M Investment Paying Off Faster Than Expected
The Dairy ProQ robotic rotary, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, has proven to be an impressive addition for Victorian farmers Paul and Marsha Smith.
Milking sheds have since April been more colourful, says GEA, with its FIL Active teat conditioner packaged in ‘vibrant pink’ drums.
It’s a sign of the company’s support of the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Marketing manager Sarah Buchanan says “breast cancer awareness is a natural fit with our teat and udder health, and allows people to show their support for those affected by cancer in choosing to buy a pink drum”.
“From a practical point of view, farmers choosing Active teat conditioner over other products are buying into a better teat care programme.”
FIL products are formulated inhouse and designed to restore teat health; they contain skincare ingredients more commonly used in high-quality cosmetics to hydrate, soften and soothe delicate human skin.
These include Allantoin, an active moisturiser with skin rejuvenation properties; aloe vera, a moisturising agent rich in antioxidants and minerals essential for restoring the condition of stressed teats; and manuka honey that aids skin regeneration, repairs cellular damage and helps keep skin hydrated.
All products are certified for use in organic dairies.
“Farmer response to GEA’s FIL ‘Think Pink’ campaign has been incredibly positive,” says Buchanan.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.
OPINION: City and regional councils have been put on notice - stop using extreme climate forecasting scenarios that can drive…
OPINION: The Green Party’s rivers and oceans policy may have a new name but nothing else has changed.