Managing a large herd of 1400 cows has its challenges, there’s no question of that. For both efficiency and animal welfare, Southland dairy farmer John Titter knew that maintaining proper hygiene in his herringbone milking sheds was essential for both milk production and herd health.
Reliability is key
One area that continually challenged him was guaranteeing proper hygiene and consistent supplement management. On-farm dosing pump applications are wide and varied. However, John’s previous dosing pump system couldn’t keep up. It had required regular, costly maintenance and could not withstand the rigours of the elements or additives. That was why John decided to replace the expensive, unreliable dosing pump and look for an alternative. He decided to install a MixRite dosing pump.
Hygiene risks reduced
In a typical herringbone milking shed, cows are on either side of a central pit. Maintaining hygiene in this setup is critical. Equipment needs to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent bacterial build-up and issues like mastitis. After each milking session, thoroughly flushing the system is essential.
Dosing pumps are particularly valuable in this. They can automate several processes in the disinfecting of the milking machines and in maintaining good animal hygiene.
Before installing the dosing pump, the team would have needed to manually mix and distribute the cleaning agents. This was time-consuming and often inconsistent. Using the dosing pump, disinfectant can be injected directly into the water lines at precise ratios. This ensures that every part of the system is thoroughly cleaned, no matter the water pressure or flow rate.
A MixRite dosing pump also proved invaluable for udder hygiene. In a dairy operation, each cow’s udder needs to be disinfected after milking to prevent infection. A dosing pump automatically allows the team to apply a precise amount of sanitising solution after each milking. This consistency not only reduces the time spent on manual udder washing but also improves the health of the herd.
Animal health and welfare
Beyond hygiene, the MixRite dosing pump plays a key role in managing animal health. The pump allows John to add medications or supplements directly into the water system.
John can reliably deliver exact dosages of medication or supplements through the water system.
Whether it is antibiotics, electrolytes, or mineral supplements, such as magnesium, the dosing pump ensures that every cow receives the right amount when needed.
This is particularly useful when specific treatments are needed, such as during periods of heightened disease risk or when extra nutritional supplements are required to support milk production.
Eliminating the need for manual mixing or measuring saves time and reduces the chances of human error.
Benefits for dairy farming:
- Consistency: Each application, be it chemicals or supplements, is applied consistently and accurately. This reduces the chance of human error in mixing or dosing.
- Labour efficiency: Automation reduces the manual labour required to mix and apply disinfectants or supplements.
- Cost-effectiveness: Dosing pumps help reduce waste by ensuring only the precise dosage of chemicals, medications, or nutrients.
- Durability: Built from engineered composite materials, these water-driven proportional dosing pumps and injectors withstand environmental elements, chemicals, and acids.
Mixrite dosing pump applications
Incorporating the MixRite dosing pump into his milking shed and wider farm operation allows John to streamline. From disinfecting milking machines and udders to managing water quality and ensuring his cows receive the right medications and supplements, the MixRite dosing pump has become a central part of the Southland dairy farm operation.
John regularly recommends MixRite dosing pumps to fellow dairy farmers. He highlights the improvements in reliability and reduction in maintenance costs.
Read on to see Johns comments about MixRite…
The right pump for dosing
Frustration with poor performance led Southland dairy farmer John Titter to replace the existing automatic dosing units used on his properties near Winton.
“We milk 1400 cows through two herringbone sheds so we need reliable gear that doesn’t break down and need to be sent away for repairs all the time,” he says.
“The maintenance costs on our old dosing pumps were very high and we just had to find a better option for dosing our cows with minerals,” he says.
When an old friend from his university days in the 1980s mentioned the success he was having with a Mixrite dosing pump on his own run-off block, John decided to buy one himself and see how it coped.
Mixrite pumps were developed in Israel and are sold in New Zealand through a local agent, with service and sales agents around most of the country.
“The issue for us is that our water has quite high levels of manganese and iron in it. Even with a pre-filter, the wear and tear on the old units was a massive challenge once we pumped in other minerals for the cows like magnesium.”
The replacement Mixrite unit was such a revelation when it came to reduced maintenance costs and performance. Aside from keeping the unit’s O-ring clean and lubricated, John says maintenance required is almost zero.
“We were spending between $500 and $1000 a year on maintaining each one of the old pumps. Now we’re able to handle most of the maintenance of the Mixrite units ourselves.”
If you have further questions about on-farm MixRite dosing pump applications, please get in touch.
Frequently asked questions about dosing pumps in milking sheds and on farms
Where are dosing pumps commonly installed on livestock farms?
Dosing pumps are commonly installed in milking sheds, main farm water lines, and livestock drinking water systems where consistent treatment or conditioning of water is required.
Why are dosing pumps used in milking shed environments?
In milking shed environments, dosing pumps are used to deliver consistent treatment of water for hygiene and system conditioning. By automating the dosing process, they reduce the need for manual handling, save time during daily operations, and help ensure treatments are applied reliably and at the correct rate throughout the milking process.
Can a single dosing pump support multiple areas across a farm?
Yes. In many farm layouts, a single dosing pump can service multiple water outlets when installed on a central water line. This depends on factors such as water flow, system layout, and dosing requirements, and ensures treatments are applied consistently across the farm.
Are dosing pumps suitable for farms without reliable electrical power?
Yes. Water-driven hydraulic dosing pumps are commonly used on farms where electrical power is limited or unavailable. Electrically powered dosing pumps are also used where a reliable power supply is available and additional control or monitoring is required.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide to hydraulic vs electric dosing pumps.
What types of products are typically dosed across farm water systems?
Across livestock farms, dosing pumps are commonly used to dose hygiene agents, supplements, minerals, and water conditioning products, depending on farm requirements and system design.
What factors influence dosing pump selection on farms?
Key factors include water pressure and flow, system layout, dosing requirements, water quality, and the specific applications being supported across the farm. Farm size and daily operating practices may also influence system selection.