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.
It provides farmers with an accurately mixed solution applied ‘fresh’ at every milking -- critical in maintaining teat condition, says FIL national manager Colin May.
“Accurately mixing and using teat spray to combat seasonal differences is crucial,” he says.
“Farmers might be using the best products, but teat spray solutions can vary depending on who does the mixing, and what they understand is required to combat seasonal differences.
“Most teat sprays suggest a mix ration of maybe 1:6 or 1:9. That can be confusing, and adding extra emollient adds yet more complexity.”
The Auto Mix + Spray unit achieves 97% accuracy, removing human error and guesswork from manual mixing, FIL says.
The company can help farmers tailor a teat care plan, including recommended mix rates to meet seasonal changes. Those rates can be loaded and locked into the unit’s memory for daily use until a change of ration is required.
When environmental conditions change or a deterioration in teat condition is detected the unit’s settings can be altered in single % ratios between 5% and 20% to counter changing patterns of teat condition.
Being pressurised, the system can be retrofitted into a wet-it or wand system, an ambic system or on-platform spraying systems like iPUD or it can be installed as a standalone unit in the dairy shed.
In each situation, the teat spray is taken directly from the drum to the application point. In line with best practice, teat spray is mixed and applied ‘fresh’ every milking, ensuring that there is no deterioration of stored pre-mixed product, particularly on farms where water quality is poor.
