IanCar Farmz

For Kihikihi dairy farmers Ian and Carmen Comins, happiness is two milking robots – for them and their small milking herd of 100 cows. Robots mean no more early morning starts to their working day and, because their cows visit the robots to be automatically milked when they please, Ian and Carmen are freed up to undertake other tasks or take time off the farm. The cows are calm and not rushed – and nearing an annual production target that is pleasingly well above the national average.  

As a farmer and general contractor, machinery is written in Ian Comins’ DNA. He is fascinated by equipment, how it works and using it to get the job done. It was no surprise then, either to his wife Carmen, or neighbouring dairy farmers in Kihikihi, south of Te Awamutu, that Ian fell for robotic milking.  

His keen interest in having a machine to undertake the task of milking resulted in the couple purchasing and installing a Dutch-made Lely Astronaut robot, moving from a 10-aside herringbone shed. That was back in 2018 – and since then there has been no need for 5am starts to their working day.  

Now the Comins have not one but two robots. It has surprised several dairy farmer friends that they have opted to take on the investment that purchasing robots requires for what is a small farming operation. The current herd is 100 cows at this stage (although they are looking at increasing to 110 cows) on a 29ha farm platform. 

Within striking distance of an annual production target of 45,000kgs of milk solids from their 100 cows, they are comfortable with their expenditure, although admit to some trepidation initially. “Investing around $500,000 in two robots for a 29ha milking platform may seem like a lot but spreading that amount over 10 years and with the increased production we are achieving we are more than okay with reducing debt,” says Ian. 

The average annual milk solids production of New Zealand dairy cows is currently reported at 393kgs with the Comins attributing their superior production of nearly 450kgs to the robotic system and having the right number of cows for their farm type and acreage. Pre-robot they milked 110 cows but dropped back to 85 when they installed the first robot, increasing to 100 with the second robot.  

When a cow approaches the milking robot, she is recognised via a sensor on her collar and any necessary information is passed back to the robot’s management system where reports can be prepared.  

The animal’s stored data then fixes a controlled portion of feed determined by the cow’s milk production and lactation phase. The Comins use a pelletised feed that acts as a supplementary treat to help attract their pasture-grazed cows to the milking robots.    

The process begins with the robot brushing teats and udder, to ensure hygiene and help stimulate milk flow. At the same time, it recognises for each cow the exact positioning required for the cups.  

Light weight teat cups are held in place by the robot’s arm with a pulse action carrying the milk away to the tank, taking a small sample at each milking to identify somatic cell counts ensuring any health issues are pinpointed early. The Comins report this has helped them to reduce the use of antibiotics.  

“This alert allows us to treat our cows earlier with more holistic and natural products, without going down the antibiotic route – and has also helped us to avoid downgrades on our milk,” says Carmen, adding that spotting the likes of ketosis early means affected animals can be treated well in advance of becoming very sick and losing production. 

In its final milking phase, the robot sprays a care product on the teats and udder and swings the feed bin out of the way so the freshly milked (and happy) cow can leave.  

To prevent any cross contamination, both the brushes and the cups are automatically disinfected before the next cow enters the robot for milking.    

For Carmen, who is generally on duty on the farm by herself during the day while Ian is away contracting, another key benefit of milking using the robots is that the cows largely do their own thing, freeing her to do other chores or take time away from the farm.  

“Those really early morning starts are a thing of the past too. The cows are free to visit the robots whenever they like – generally 2.6 times a day,” she says. “They’re happy, calm and not rushed.”