Breeding the Ultimate Robot-Ready Jersey Herd
In the beautiful, scenic expanse of Invercargill, Joanne (Jo) Crack of Southern Star Farms is redefining what it means to run a modern, self-sufficient dairy operation.
Growth rates, health, and early nutrition all have a direct line to lifetime performance. Yet on many farms, calf feeding remains one of the most labour-intensive and inconsistent parts of the system.
That's where Lely says it's Lely Calm automatic feeder is changing the conversation.
Lely Calm Designed Around Natural Feeding Behaviour
At its core, Calm is about consistency, says Lely.
It prepares milk at the right temperature and delivers it ad libitum, allowing calves to drink little and often throughout the day.
This feeding approach supports better nutrient uptake and enourages steady daily weight gain, something that's difficult to achieve with traditional twice-a-day bucket feeding.
Calves can drink according to their natural rhythm, reducing stress and supporting stronger development from the first day.
Flexible Feeding Strategies for Different Calf Groups
The company says the system is fully adjustable, givikng farmers the flexibility to tailor feeding strategies to different groups.
Replacement heifers can be fed differently from beef calves, with settings adapted to suit each goal.
Replacement calves can recedive unlimited milk for the first five to six weeks of life, while beef calves can be managed with set daily allowances.
From there, a gradual step-down encourages roughage and concentrate intake, supporting rumen development and setting the foundation for improved vitality, fertility, and milk production later in life.
Hygiene Features Aim to Improve Calf Health
Hygiene, often a challenge in calf rearing, is another area where Lely says Calm stands out.
The system is designed to clean itself automatically multiple times a day using water and specialised detergents.
For farms wanting an extra ledvel of protection, the optional HygieneBox adds a two-step cleaning process, rinsing the teat after every visit and thoroughly cleaning the internal system.
The result is consistently high milk quality and reduced bacterial build-up, both critical for calf health.
Automation Reduces Labour Requirements
Beyond feeding and hygiene, Calm significantly reduces labour, says Lely.
"The repetitive tasks of mixing milk, filling buckets, and feeding calves manualy are largely eliminated. Farmers can gain back valuable time while still knowing their calves are being fed accurately and consistently. It also introduces calves to automated systems early, as they learn to enter a drinking station, an experienced that can ease the transition to robotic milking later in life."
Digital Monitoring Through Lely Horizon
What truly sets it apart, according to the company, is the integration with the Lely Horizon farm management platform, a digital monitoring and decision-support system working behind the scenes.
Calm captures feeding data every time a calf drinks and converts it into practical, easy-to-use insights for the farmer.
This allows farmers to monitor drinking behaviour, pick up changes early, and track each calf's growth and performance over time.
When combined with the Lely Astronaut automated milking robots, it creates a complete digital record from calf to cow, helping farmers make better, more informed decisions at every stage of life.
In a sector increasingly focused on efficiency and animal wellbeing, Lely Calm offers a practical step forward, helping farmers raise healthier calves today, and more productive cows tomorrow.
www.lely.com
Article supplied by Lely
