TITIPUA
PH 07 578 0030 The Tru-test drafting system.
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The large square yard with backing gate.
The team: Builder Richard Stodart, Southland Farm Services’ Mark McMillan and Nigel Brown, sharemilkers Sara and Blake Korteweg and Doug McDonald, from Doug’s Engineering.
Success in simplicity in Southland These swing down for easy cleaning after milking and then swing back up out of the way of the milking staff. There is a DeLaval LVP 3000 variable speed vacuum pump, which doesn’t require oil or water to operate efficiently. “Not requiring water or oil means that it needs no maintenance and saves on power and increases the lifetime of the pump,” says Mark.
Power supply
Southland Farm Services electrical division took care of all the electrics starting with the power supply to the builder’s pole, to the end result of ensuring everything turned on when required. Another reason Southland
Farm Services was chosen was their efficient 24-hour callout service. The earthworks were carried out by Cameron Contractors based at Woodlands just north of Invercargill. When bought, the farm consisted of 30 large paddocks which were impractical, so some of the larger paddocks have now been split up and several laneways were put in to connect the paddocks and allow easy access to and from the new dairy. Jack Cameron of Cameron Contractors also prepared the groundwork for the dairy, making sure it was a well-compacted, firm surface to sustain a large building. He also constructed the weeping wall
as part of the effluent system. The zig zag pipe work, which traditionally is a feature of a herringbone dairy, was designed and constructed by Doug McDonald, owner of Doug’s Engineering at Woodlands.
Own flavour
“I have a good working relationship with Blake and Sara,” says Doug. “They added their own ‘flavour’ to the yard layout and we were happy to oblige. The yard is oblong instead of round, which suited the cows and the lay of the land,” says Doug. Doug’s Engineering manufactured and installed the backing gate, constructed the yard rails and
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installed the exit gates. Not limited to herringbones, they’re happy to do the pipework for rotary dairies as well. Blake and Sara find the Tru-Test drafting system invaluable during mating season. “I can programme in the cows I want kept back for mating and through their electronic ear tag they can be drafted out into a pen ready for the Artificial Breeding technician,” says Blake. It can also be applied at other times of the year for suspect mastitis cows or cows with other health problems. As the cows exit through the drafting system the WETiT automatic teat spraying system makes sure each quarter of the cow’s udder is totally
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covered with spray to ensure good udder health and reduce the risk of mastitis. “Since putting in place the WETiT spray system we have had very little mastitis,” says Blake. The Kortewegs started milking in the new dairy shed on July 25, 2015. They had a full herd of rotary cows but by the end of October they’d all adjusted well to the herringbone. A few cows were too early and were milked in a friend’s shed at the start. “The farm and the dairy shed are simple and easy to run with the help of two other staff. We hope to increase to 550 cows in time and intend being in the dairy industry for the long haul,” says Blake. By Helen Wilson