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Aussie-owned milk co-operative, Dairy Farmers, recently worked with Brett and a group of other farmers on a trial of one of the industry’s first SMS-based technologies for the communication of milk test results direct to suppliers’ mobile phones within an hour of testing.
Before the new system was available, Brett was relying on the tanker slip system for milk results.
“This new SMS system is a great idea – I'm sold on it,” Brett said.
“It keeps me up to date with cell count results and gives us an opportunity to make immediate changes to our milking herd.
“It means I can get a better overall bearing on herd health and make sure problems get addressed by picking up on any cow that is causing a problem.”
Brett consistently receives Dairy Farmers’ monthly milk quality bonus and also the annual bonus in recognition for consistently supplying top quality milk. In doing so, he receives a premium farmgate price for his milk.
A key factor in milk quality is steady somatic cell counts; the new SMS technology quickly alerts Brett to any fluctuations, allowing him to identify problem cows within his milking herd. Brett currently milks 105 cows comprised of Holsteins and Jerseys.
Through Dairy Farmers’ previous system for communicating milk test results sometimes multiple milkings would occur before farmers were aware of fluctuations.
Identifying a need to revise its communication to suppliers to allow better farm management, the Co-operative’s Farm Services team became the driving force behind the adoption of the new technology. Members of the team had seen a similar system used to great effect in Europe.
Early farmer feedback to the SMS trial was very positive, prompting Dairy Farmers to rollout the system to all suppliers across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
Brett has been dairy farming for 16 years. He credits Dairy Farmers for being the only company at the time requiring his milk.
“Dairy Farmers came to the party in 2003 and I've stayed supplying to them ever since. It’s a loyalty thing but also because I'm happy with them,” Brett said.
He his also grateful for successive farmgate milk price increases this season.
“It is by far the right step – it has made all the difference and brought some vigour back into the industry.”
Long recognised as an industry leader in milk quality standards, in 2007 Dairy Farmers whole white milk was named the nation’s best dairy product by Dairy Australia, the first time in the history of the awards that a white milk took out the top prize.
