Bruce Dinnington, a third-generation farmer, is pioneering the use of revolutionary technology on his family farm at Dacre, setting a new standard for barn cleanliness and cow welfare in the process. His farm is the first in Australasia to implement the Lely Discovery 120 Collector, a state-of-the-art manure management system.
Unlike conventional scrapers, this robotic system vacuums manure, effectively eliminating waste build-up where cows stand. The Discovery 120 Collector features a lithium battery and wireless charging station, allowing more frequent cleaning routes. According to Bruce the results have been impressive: “The floor is so much cleaner which in turn keeps the beds significantly cleaner. We’ve seen quite a drop in somatic cell count. The cows are also clean and shiny, and the beds are so clean.”
Bruce’s foray into robotic farming began with the introduction of a Lely Calm automatic calf feeder, which he came into contact with after a neighbour bought one. Impressed by the results, he progressively added more Lely technology, including the Astronaut robotic milking system and the Juno automatic feed pusher. This integrated approach, along with other changes, has yielded significant benefits, with milk production increasing from 560 kgs MS per cow to 750 kgs MS.
The impact of these technologies on the farm’s operations has been profound. The robotic milking system, for instance, allows the farm’s 350 Friesian cows to be milked on their own schedule. “They’re milking three times a day, which takes the pressure off the udder,” Bruce explains.
“It’s a win-win for cow health and productivity.”
“The feed in the robots is production-based. My big milking cows get the actual supplements they need to keep them going. With our old rotary system, we couldn’t tailor feed to individual cows. Our high producers weren’t getting the nutrition they needed, which made it challenging for them to maintain their condition and conceive. Now, with the robotic system, we can precisely meet each cow’s needs. The big milkers are thriving – they’re getting the right nutrition, and the stress-free environment has made them noticeably more content. It’s a win-win for cow health and productivity.”
The Dinnington farm has always aimed to be at the forefront of agricultural innovation and continue a family tradition of embracing new technologies that dates back to 1947 when Bruce’s grandfather first established the farm. Bruce sees the farm as a testament to the potential of these technologies but remains surprised by the slow uptake of the technology in New Zealand.
“It baffles me why this hasn’t taken off here,” he says. “Robotic milking is becoming very popular overseas and there have been huge advancements in the technology. If you put in a top-line rotary, a robotic system is not that much more expensive, and the return is much greater. It’s about a 10%-15% production increase in the first year alone, and the reduction of one to two labour units depending on the size of the farm. Lely estimates the Juno alone could save farmers up to 180 hours a year so for me robotic farming is a no-brainer.”
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