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The inside of the dairy. At present 32 goats can be milked simultaneously. Two workers can milk without interferrence

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Mathom Farm now has a modern 32 unit dairy meaning that with two people in the milking parlour 32 goats can be milked simultaneously. The dairy yard has been extended so that it has the capacity to hold almost 350 goats. The new milk line is 100mm in diameter.

Morning milking
A Toggenberg doe 245 days into her 2nd lactation.

In 2005 a new high capacity vacuum pump was installed along with Westphalia electronic pulsation. To speed up milking in the first couple of months of the season, a  colostrum line has been piggy-backed on the milk line. A higher capacity milk pump was installed in 2006.

Apart from each cluster having 2 cups instead of 4, the vacuum in the lines being lower, and the addition of milking platforms, the dairy operations are identical to those of a cow dairy.

 

Afternoon milking at Mathom Farm Dairy>
The Paddock Girls waiting to be milked

A feed system delivers pellets to each goat in adjustable, predetermined amounts. As can be seen on the image opposite, the pellets are stored in a 20 tonne silo.

There are 2 milk vats and the milk is held at a temperature of 1oC.

Water is supplied to the dairy wash system from a bore. Washdown water for the dairy yard and floor comes from the river.

The Tasmanian Dairy Authority inspect and certify Mathom Farm Dairy on an annual basis. Since legislation required the inspection of non-bovine dairies in Tasmania we have consistently scored an "A" rating.

The goat shed soon after it was built. There are plans to extend it to include another wing of the same size. The dairy and silo are in the background.
A Fox triple axle semi-tanker picking up. Picks are usually by a dual axle Hillwood tanker.

Pickup is by semi-trailer tanker. The milk is sampled before pickup and then tested in independent laboratories. Tests include: presence of antibiotics, fat content, protein content, chemical residues, somatic cell count, total milk solids and bacterial count. Mathom Farm is proud to score top marks in all of these areas.

The grey flexible tubes carry feed pellets to the milkers. This Togg wants more!

Images 1 2 | A Farm Experience | Links 1 2 | Products | About Us | Our goats   Animal Antics | Environmental Work | Home