FARM VISIT ▶▶▶
A new 64 point DeLaval rotary parlour was installed two years ago.
in. “There are already large fans and water misters in the col- lecting area prior to milking to reduce heat stress. However, we have plans in place to build housing in the corals to better protect the cows and make them more comfortable. These houses will be of a narrow construction and built in the direction of the winds to help cool them down,” he said.
Installation of cow manager software Another tool recently introduced to the farm that Pieter says has been a huge factor in increasing herd health and milk quality is a new software package. “Cow manager really has been a major influence on improv- ing the health and management of the cows and with that, milk quality has also increased. “We are now able to manage the herd more efficiently on computer and know exactly which cows are at what stages. Our calving index has fallen from 496 days to 392 days and my average open days is down to 116 just with better man- agement,” he adds. Although labour is plentiful and relatively cheap in South Africa, the Nel farm is hoping to invest in ro- botic milking systems in the future. “It takes a lot of time to move the different milking performance groups to the milk- ing parlour, three times per day,” he says. “This would be easi- er to manage with a number of robotic milking units on the
▶DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 6, No. 2, 2019 25
farm perhaps in different areas. It would help save time and labour costs in the long run,” he adds. Even with the current political uncertainty in South Africa, this farm is confident enough of its future to invest heavily to make the business more efficient and to put it in a good place to tackle any price fluctuations that may lie ahead.
Cows escape the sun under the shade cloth.
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