GEA area sales manager Anthony Ferguson talking about the GEA DairyRobot R9500 milking system at the McNeils' Murrabit farm.
Photo by
Scott L Photography
It's been eight months since Willows Pastoral began operating under an automatic dairy milking system.
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Farm owners Nigel and Jess McNeil now milk their 200 cows with the help of Nigel’s dad, Wayne, using their four GEA DairyRobot R9500s in their upgraded facility.
The McNeil family started farming in Murrabit, near Kerang, 80 years ago.
As Wayne prepared for retirement, Nigel took over the dairy farm, recognising the need to upgrade their existing dairy facility, which required two operators.
The main goals were to manage labour shortages as Wayne exited the farm and transitioned into retirement, maintain premium milk quality with low cell counts, and achieve a better work-life balance.
Farmer Nigel McNeil (right) explaining how his family farm has been upgraded.
Photo by
Scott L Photography
Nigel chose the GEA DairyRobot R9500 for its compact design, which easily integrated into their current facility.
The GEA DairyRobot R9500 was the perfect solution due to its small footprint, ease of integration, and labour-saving benefits.
The technology also represents a significant leap forward in sustainable dairy farming practices. This automatic milking system offers up to 19 per cent energy savings, reduced water consumption, and shorter milking times compared to the predecessor model, making it both economical and environmentally friendly.
“We only need one supply unit to connect four boxes, sharing equipment and reducing system complexity,” Nigel said.
Its In-Liner Everything technology ensures high milk quality by performing every step of the milking process within a single attachment, maintaining hygiene and efficiency.
The DairyNet App herd management system allows the McNeils to monitor cow data and system parameters anytime, anywhere.
Farmer Jess McNeil (left) and event participants.
Nigel has also decided to integrate the CowScout herd management system to optimise cow health, heat detection and reproductive management.
“The data we get is incredibly helpful. It makes managing the herd so much easier and more efficient."
Wayne now enjoys the flexibility of running the farm solo on weekends, while Nigel can spend more time with Jess and their three children, confident that the milking robots are handling the cows efficiently.
Farmer Wayne McNeil (right) and an event participant.
Photo by
Scott L Photography
On July 9, the McNeil family opened their doors to about 80 visitors, including farmers, suppliers, industry enthusiasts and partners.
The visitors saw the GEA robotic milking system in action and heard from the farm owners about the challenges and opportunities they encountered while transforming their facility into an automatic milking dairy with a digital herd management system.
Representatives from the GEA Farm Technologies and Dairy Technology Services Kyabram dealership, who supplied and installed the milking system, also attended.
John Van De Burgt, director of Westfalia Warragul and Future Dairies Gippsland dealership (left) with open day organiser Jordan Berg, who is senior manager at Dairy Technology Services – Kyabram.
Photo by
Scott L Photography
More than 80 people attended the open day at the Murrabit property.
GEA AMS sales manager Jurgen Steen (centre) introduces the DairyRobot R9500 and how it operate to the participants.
Photo by
Scott L Photography
Visitors were eager to learn about robotic milking.
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