HILLS
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Rapid exit stalling system speeds up milking Ken says the goat dairy is a “very tidy set-up” and it was a pleasure to be part of the project. It was Hayden Aymes, of Dairyworx Otorohanga, who installed the GEA WestfaliaSurge milking equipment in the dairy. “The equipment used for a goat dairy is not too different from a cow dairy, except of course there are just two cups and you can fit more goats into a smaller area,” says Hayden.
Continuous barrier
What is different is the rapid exit stalling system. That’s a series of hinged rubber ‘gates’ which a goat pushes open as it enters the milking area. The gate then closes behind it, leaving the adjacent stall for the next goat in line. When milking is finished the goats are released by lifting the continuous barrier in front of all the stalls, operated from the pit. Once the goats have left, the barrier is replaced and the second wave of goats come in to be milked, tempted by feed rations delivered to each stall. “The dairy is running pretty smoothly,” says Hayden. It’s the fourth goat dairy he’s installed equipment in. Jamie says even in the first few days of milking, milk quality was excellent, with no grades, and he’s delighted. The only initial problem was the young goats weren’t producing very much milk, so adjustments
had to be made to the vat’s cooling system to cope with smaller volumes.
Best of both
That will no longer be an issue once the herd grows in numbers and maturity. GEA’s south and west Waikato area sales manager Paul Gilling says Hayden is excellent at his job of installing equipment and working closely with clients to meet their needs. “What we have done with this dairy is install the best of both Milfos and WestfaliaSurge equipment to provide the best system for the Hill dairy,” says Paul. Having access to world leading equipment, manufactured in Hamilton is a distinct advantage for clients, he says. James, who does most of the milking, admits to finding high tech equipment baffling, but says the system Dairyworx and GEA has installed is simple and efficient. “What I like best is that at the end of milking I just push a button and walk away, and everything gets washed by itself,” says James. That’s thanks to the iNTELWASH system, which automatically washes the milking equipment using the correct doses of detergent, ensuring the equipment is thoroughly cleaned before the next milking, and eliminating the risk of human error. The Hills’ dairy is also fitted with Interpuls clusters and jetters. The vacuum system is the same
as that used in cow dairies, but the vacuum level and pulsation is adjusted for goats. Paul says Jamie opted for the more expensive Rotary Lobe Milk pump. “Goats’ milk is easily damaged in the milk harvesting process, which can be an issue in a herringbone shed with an overhead milk line. “The Rotary Lobe Milk pump is gentler on the milk, meaning milk quality is preserved. In terms of the rest of the plant, it is fairly standard,” says Paul. “Things are going well in the Hills’ dairy but the first season of milking is always a bit difficult as the animals and farmers get used to the new dairy.”
Giant help
Jamie has a ‘giant’ helping hand when it comes to cleaning the goat houses and other tasks around the farm – in the form of a Giant V5003T wheel loader he bought from ForestQuip. The loader, with a 60hp Kubota engine is made in Holland and John Hansen of ForestQuip says the unique machine is ideal for the goat industry. “These machines are designed for European farms where there’s often not a lot of room to manoeuvre, which makes them ideal for working in tight spaces like goat barns. “They are very powerful and can lift nearly their own weight with a clip hitch system, which means implements can be changed
Caravans4u
Happy goat farmers – James and Wendy Hills and their son Jamie inside the barn for milking goats on their Whatawhata farm.
The 30-aside dairy features a rapid exit stalling system for the goat.
Paul Gilling of GEA Farm Technologies says the Hills dairy has the best of both Milfos and WestfaliaSurge equipment.
Warren and Peter Davenport, of WD Davenport & Co Ltd Builders, built the dairy. without leaving the cab,” says John. says the Giant loader is one of the “The loaders are comfortable to oper- best investments he’s made because of ate with high visibility.” its manoeuvrability, ease of operation Jamie, who first saw the Giant loaders and versatility. at the Mystery Creek Fieldays, By Elaine Fisher
Your local milking machine and dairy shed specialists
Hayden Aymes 0800 329 679
9 Lawrence Street, Otorohanga hayden@dairyworx.co.nz
HOBBS ELECTRICAL CALL KEN – 07 871 4516 – 0272 848 495