Use NAIT to get started in automation

While some farmers will see mandatory NAIT tagging as an unwelcome and expensive compliance issue, MilkHub Managing Director Ross Nilson says that others are taking the opportunity to use the RFID technology to upgrade their shed operations with automation.

“RFID tags are the essential starting point for automation. We understand the prospect of new technology being foisted onto farmers can be quite overwhelming for some, so farmers need to know they don’t have to spend their entire payouts installing all the whistles and bells to get some real on-farm benefit from NAIT compliance.” says Ross.

MilkHub’s dairy automation and herd management system is developed in modules, therefore it is possible to install a simple EID panel reader alongside an existing race to record individual cow movements and identify missing cows. When the reporting of cow movement off-farm or between properties becomes mandatory in July 2012, the information will be readily and quickly available from the MilkHub online management platform.

The addition of walk-over weigh scales to the EID reader builds on a database of vital cow information supporting better informed herd management and decision making. Individual cow weights are collected for feeding and health observations. The weights are delivered as online reports for analysing mob averages and weight trends. Pre-mating weight recording aids body condition scoring, and breeding outcomes can be improved with good weight management at AI time.

Upgrading shed operations and functionality is often top of mind when considering automation and MilkHub’s 3-way automatic drafting gate offers both operational and management benefits. Cows of interest can have drafts set using a keypad or pullcord from in-shed or set online at any time. The animals are automatically drafted out for events or treatments as they leave the shed with no interruption to milking.

Todd Williamson from Rahotu operates a one-man shed with 540 cows going through his 44 bail rotary shed. 

“Using the Automatic Drafting Gate with the Pullcord is fantastic. It has made life so much easier. Last night I drafted our 100 cows which was no problem because the Pullcord is right beside you and I just keep on milking,” he said.

The MilkHub system is fully integrated and chosen modules can be installed at any time including cow in-bail information display, in-line sensors for milk yield and mastitis predictions, Broadcast Display Screens and feed controller. These are advanced in-shed tools that produce key real-time information for every cow, every milking, every day. The comprehensive information delivered can drive productivity increases, reduced costs and support dairy farm compliance.

There is no doubt that once RFID tagged cows are added to an electronic data base herd management decisions are better supported. The combination of drafting gate, weigh scales and EID reader with online management platform is a powerful entry level system, and the ability to make improvements to production and the bottom line are quickly evident.

With a healthy payout this year it is timely to consider upgrading shed operations and management to automated systems to gain the most advantage from NAIT compliance.