increase font size
Lely Astronaut A5 milking cows on a NZ farm.
Cows benefit from robotic milking. They are more relaxed, healthier, and reward farmers with more milk.
According to Lely, this is because the system fits much better with their needs while freeing up farmers’ time to give true attention to cows. It is simply the best system for milking cows.
The cow is the most decisive factor in the performance of any milking system. Understanding cows and treating each cow in the best way is what the Astronaut is all about, Lely says.
It says the Astronaut offers the easiest access and the most cow-friendly box to make sure a cow likes to visit the robot.
“The brushes ensure the best pre-treatment and stimulation, while the milking process is tailored to each quarter. The management system automatically arranges ideal milking intervals. This ensures good udder health and milk yield.
“Vital cow and milk data is offered as valuable information to allow farmers to take action at the earliest possible stages.
From I-flow to the most accurate hybrid arm from all sensors close to the udder to adaptive pulsating the Astronaut uses every split second to reduce box time and to optimise its output.
“A quick view during milking for the cow’s info or fast and easy first milkings make the Lely Astronaut easier to use and understand than ever before.
Lely has focused on meeting users’ demands with significant changes to the control panel and functionalities. The system offers step-bystep simple instructions with carefully considered menus and clear icons.”
Maximising benefits and minimizing costs Reducing labour by eliminating repetitive tasks, making farmers more flexible with their time and increasing milk yields and cow health are the recognized and proven benefits of automating the milking process.
Lely now offers these benefits at a steady total cost per litre that is as low as possible.
Lely says with the new hybrid robot arm, it has managed to reduce energy consumption by as much as 20%. The system’s water consumption has also been lowered, compared to the volumes used by conventional milking systems.
Hybrid Arm
The hybrid arm of the Astronaut A5 combines the advantages of electrically driven movements with the softness and the power of air.
A huge pneumatic cylinder carries the weight of the arm using virtually no air while electrical components move the arm with great accuracy.
The air in the system balances the heavy load of the arm and buffers cow kicks, protecting the electrical system.
Cow-friendly
Energy-friendly
User-friendly
Despite conditions in the farm machinery industry, which can only be described as difficult, the German-headquartered Claas Group has reported net sales of €5 billion for the 2024 financial, around €1.1 billion, or 19% lower than the corresponding period in 2023.
While the LDV brand has been available in New Zealand for a number of years, it’s typically been recognised as a second tier offering. That has started to change after distribution passed to the Inchcape Group in 2023, who are on a trajectory to improve that public perspective, and in due course, push sales upwards.
Mostly associated with conventional tractor tyres, Indian tyre manufacturer Ceat is reported to have bought the Camso off-highway tyre and track business from Michelin for about US$225 million (NZ$400 million).
Announced at the end of the year at the EIMA 2024 Event in Bologna, Italy, the Case IH Quadtrac 715 - the new flagship model in the Case IH tractor range - has won the Tractor of the Year 2025 High-Power Category for models of 300-plus horsepower.
Marlborough-based agritech company Smart Machines has reached a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionise vineyard management.
The first phase of a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into allegations of mistreatment of sheep connected to shearing practices has been completed.
According to Biosecurity New Zealand, legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe will remain in place until mid-February.
The rollout of the New Zealand Genetic Evaluation Version 6 is said to mark a step-change in the depth and breadth of genetic information available to both stud and commercial sheep breeders.
With low wool prices, farmer interest in the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep continues to grow.
OPINION: Dairy farmers will be breathing easier thanks to the Government last month delivering a Christmas gift in the form of immigration reforms.
Arable growers are being invited to supply samples of their harvested crops as part of a project which uses an alternative approach to determining how well they are managing their biggest input - fertiliser.
OPINION: It could be cod on your cornflakes and sardines in your smoothie if food innovators in Indonesia have their…
OPINION: A new study, published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, adds to some existing evidence about…
