Visit a ‘free cow’ robotic dairy

Participants will visit John and Andrea Henry’s robotic dairy, at Pyree near Nowra, NSW.

The Henrys are the only dairy farmers in Australia operating an automatic milking system with free cow traffic.

Their system is based on the European model where cows are housed and fed indoors and are able to move freely between the milking robots, feeding, loafing areas and an outdoor paddock.

Symposium organiser, Dr Kendra Kerrisk, said the Henry’s set up was quite different to most Australian automatic milking farms which were pasture-based with voluntary cow movement controlled by automatic drafting gates.

“What is interesting about the Henrys is that they looked at all options and chose the system they thought would best suit their situation,” Dr Kerrisk said.

“Their main business is forage contracting, but robotic milking enabled John and Andrea to re-enter dairying without compromising the rest of their operations.”

Because they have a forage contracting business, it suited the Henrys to cut and carry the cows’ forage. Automatic milking reduced their reliance on hired labour.

The Henrys like their free cow traffic system because it is both simple and cow friendly.

In keeping with their cow-friendly approach, the Henrys use composted bedding in the loafing area.

Over several years, they have developed composting bedding materials that have relatively low capital and operational costs while maintaining high animal health standards.

“The Henry’s automatic milking system is unique in Australia. And it is a good example of the Symposium’s theme: Taking Control,” Dr Kerrisk said.

The symposium program includes one day of seminar presentations on July 4, followed by farm tours on July 5. In keeping with the Taking Control theme, speakers will discuss ways to take control of herd health, business finances and dairy nutrition.

The farm tours will visit the Henry’s and Clover Hill Dairies, operated by Michael, Lynne and Nick Strong.

* Details: www.drfsymposium.com.au