Dairy farmers work through similar processes every day, but taking another look at ordinary tasks can yield significant time and financial savings. Process evaluation has many names, including lean, Kaizan or Six Sigma, but the concepts are similar: constantly improve, find bottlenecks and reduce waste, says Dr. Chris Church, a master’s student at the Lang […] Read more
Tag Archives milking
Make your dairy processes lean and clean
Stopping and observing are the first steps to efficiency
Diversifying dairy means more than milking
Here’s how four dairy farms grew their businesses beyond milk production
Farmers who diversify their dairy operations can make it work with luck, great planning and a willingness to take risks. The Canadian Dairy XPO’s new Canadian Dairy Business Conference brought together four farmers who have diversified so milking cows is just part of what they do. Why it matters: Dairy farmers who want to grow […] Read more
VIDEO: Gordon dairy expands operation, and family participation
The Gordon family has brought four children into the operation with one new barn
Four family members were interested in continuing the dairy farm, so the Gordon family had a decision to make. Some dairy farm families work to establish each child with their own farm, and others, like the Gordons, decide to work together in one large facility. Why it matters: Farms continue to fine-tune the workings of […] Read more
Batch milking combines parlour facility with automation of robots
The system can save labour and milk large numbers of cows
A new concept in dairy equipment management brings the automation and data of robotic milking to a milking parlour orientation. DeLaval has several installations around the world where cows are herded into a holding area from which they access a group of automated milkers. Why it matters: The company says VMS batch milking is designed […] Read more
New app tracks and simplifies barn equipment maintenance
Energy also can be monitored with Rakr’s tracking app
A free new app launched by an Ontario start-up aims to simplify barn equipment maintenance. And it’s a precursor to an innovative monitoring system to track and manage on-farm energy use that Rakr is launching in 2021, called NeatMeter. Why it matters: Cost control is essential to farm profitability. Energy is a significant expenditure for […] Read more
Reproduction testing added to robotic milking
The option is available on the VMS V310 from DeLaval
DeLaval has created a simpler version of its on-farm milk-testing system, integrating pregnancy and heat monitoring in its new V310 robotic milking system. The DeLaval VMS V310 alerts farmers when cows are coming into heat and when cows are testing as pregnant due to their progesterone levels. An algorithm determines when a cow needs to […] Read more
Dairy parlours, feed monitoring and genetic indices see innovations
The latest dairy technologies launched at World Dairy Expo
Robotic teat washing coming for parlours Automations continue to arrive in milking parlours. First there was data recording and automatic shutoffs, then teat spray robots. There have been some attempts at full robotic milking, but adoption has been slow. The next step in the parlour milking process that begs automation is teat washing. There have […] Read more
Seven tips for better dairy goat performance
A herd’s average production may be a go-to parameter for many goat dairy managers, but Amanda Davison believes their focus should shift instead to the average among a select group of that herd. “Don’t look at average production,” advised Davison on March 21 in Woodstock, as she addressed producers attending the annual general meeting of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
