Walton Farm Cows
Innovation
Drafting cows with Protrack and RFID (click to enlarge)
Milk cooling with Polar Wrap on the vat (click to enlarge)
The approach is being demonstrated on the Waikato dairy farm of David and Raewyn Bennett. Preliminary results indicate the approach can dramatically and sustainably lift farm output and profitability by boosting production and lowering costs.
Output from the farm is well above the industry average of 824kg ms/ha, and currently exceeds 2,900kg ms/ha. Effective farm surplus is forecast to exceed $3,900/ha this year compared to the industry weighted average of $1,900/ha. Fertiliser application has been reduced by over 60% and discharges to surrounding watersheds are well within Waikato Regional Council environmental limits.
While much of the higher output and reduced environmental impacts of the operation must be credited to David and Raewyn's farming system and expertise, it's clear that technology is a key enabler.
The Walton Farm Integrated Farm Management project was initiated and is managed by Innovation Waikato with the support and facilitation of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The project involves four main technology partners: Livestock Improvement, Gallagher Group, Agricom, and Telecom, as well as other technology companies and research organisations. The technologies being trialled include advanced systems for effluent treatment, animal identification, milk sensing and measurement, animal performance measurement, herd performance measurement, energy conservation, data collection and analysis, system monitoring and communications.
