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CRAIGMORE FARMS
Page 25
Glencarn and Pine Hill get new parlours
Pine Hill manager Craig Fellowes.
Craigmore Farms
Craigmore Farms pod manager Francois Tillard in front of the loaďŹ ng pad at Glencarn farm.
This clever little detail creates a viewing platform around the entire shed and makes it easy to vet cows from the upper level and get a good look at each cow’s condition as she rotates on-platform. It has large sliding doors at the back for airow in summer and can be closed to keep out bad weather. Although the dairy shed is enclosed, it is light and airy. Right at the beginning both dairy sheds were designed in consultation with the farmer and their requirements. They were planned to ďŹ t into the landscape and be functional. Barfoote Construction has been building dairy sheds for 27 years, both in New Zealand and overseas. They have a reputation for consulting with the farmer for any speciďŹ c requirements, presenting a plan the client is happy with, then building a functional and easy-to-care-for dairy shed. Craigmore Farms has installed Waikato Milking Systems milking machines in their other dairy sheds and decided to keep with what they knew worked for them and their situation. “My philosophy is: ‘Don’t mend it if it isn’t broken’ so that’s why we chose Waikato Milking Systems again,â€? says Francois.
Ease of use
Barfoote Construction site manager Arafar Maklad at Pine Hill rotary dairy shed.
Waikato Milking Systems’ central and upper South Island sales manager Chris Barclay says the herringbone has a basic 40 loop line machine with a swingdown jetter system and swing arms for ease of use. “The milk droppers swing from side-toside during milking, leaving more room in the pit for the milkers and ensure optimum alignment of the cluster. Washing the plant is made easier by jetters,
which are out of the way during milking and simply swing down when required,â€? says Chris. “While the dairy currently does not have SmartECRs – automatic cup removers – Chris says “the integrated design of our systems ensures they are futureproofed with easy installation of the latest technologyâ€?. The 50-bail rotary dairy shed at Pine Hill has also been ďŹ tted with a Waikato Milking Systems plant. This one is a fully automated system including SmartECRs that are activated by simply lifting the cluster and a SmartSPRAY automatic teat spray system, which allows a measured amount of teat spray to be administered directly under the cow, completely covering the udder at the time of cluster removal. Chris says the SmartWASH system has been programmed to do three different wash cycles per week to clean the milking plant and milk silos. “Having a library of wash programmes gives reassurance that the right chemicals are being used. There is an alert system that will sound when the chemicals are getting low or the water temperature is incorrect and the system will shut itself down,â€? says Chris. ‘Tried and true’ is the motto which Morrison Agri apply to the installation of milking machines. They are the authorised Waikato Milking Systems dealer for the North Otago region.
Taking pride Morrison Agri owner Paul Morrison has a fully qualiďŹ ed installation and maintenance team, which Chris says take pride in their work “and it showsâ€?. “And they are always available for any maintenance requirements.â€?
)DUP $XGLWLQJ DQG &HUWLÒFDWLRQ )DUP 'DLU\ 6KHG $VVHVVPHQWV 6HUYLFHV TB Testing /LYH $QLPDO ([SRUW &HUWLÒFDWLRQ We also provide: • Sample Collection Services - BVD & EBL including the serology service, Trace (OHPHQW VDPSOLQJ '1$ VDPSOH FROOHFWLRQ VHUYLFH IRU \RXU SURðOLQJ RI KHUGV (blood or tissue) • Calf Disbudding • Stock Weighing • Body Condition Scoring • DDT Soil Sampling Contact your local technician for more information on these services - Freephone 0508 00 11 22
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