“We saw it as an opportunity to see if we could adopt a new technology, incorporate it into the business and make it profitable.”

Paul and Wayne Clarke are 5th generation dairy farmers. They’d been running their farm with conventional milking systems for 20 years when the option of a robotic milking system was presented. They wanted to see if using the robotic milking system would work for their business and production needs.

Their main concern implementing the robotic milking system was what was going to happen during summer in the heat and storms of New South Wales. They soon discovered that their VMS improved milking in the heat, as the voluntary aspect meant that the cows could sit in the shade when they wanted.

The Clarkes use the robotic milking systems to milk about 150-160 cows per robot per day and they are confident that in the long term, the robotic milking system will help them reach their goals for the business. The Clarkes have also saved 1.5 labour units using their robotic milking systems as they no longer need to employ someone during the week to help them milk.