More than 400 farmers visited Wyndara Farms in southwest Victoria across a two-day open farm event in November, gaining a firsthand look at one of Victoria’s most advanced automated dairy operations.
Hosted by third-generation farmer Darren Vickers, in conjunction with Lely Australia and Southwest Dairy Services, the open days provided visitors with the opportunity to see eight Lely Astronaut milking robots operating within a purpose-built barn system and to hear directly from industry professionals.
For Darren, the move to automation was sparked by two significant challenges facing many dairy businesses today: increasingly difficult climatic conditions and the growing challenge of finding reliable labour.
Starting with 120 cows on 230 acres, Darren has spent decades evolving his dairy operation, progressing through three herringbone dairy rebuilds before later investing in a rotary dairy.
He then took the next step and transitioned to a robotic barn system designed to improve labour efficiency while prioritising cow comfort and wellbeing.
The result is a modern dairy operation equipped with eight Lely Astronaut robots. The new system is supporting Darren's plans to grow towards 700 milking cows, alongside young stock and approximately 150 beef cattle, all without purchasing additional land.
Lely proposition manager cceania Wayne Cockburn said Darren's story resonated strongly with visitors because it's a real-world example of a farmer adapting to changing conditions and shaping a business that's built for the future.
Attendees toured the barn, observed the automation technology in action and gained practical insights into the day-to-day realities of robotic milking.
Visitors were also able to chat to suppliers, such as DLL Finance, Ridley Stockfeeds, Bulla, as well as Central Steel Build.
Darren shared his experience of making the transition, discussing the challenges, lessons learned and the benefits he has seen since adopting the system.
A key focus of the open farm days was creating an environment where dairy farmers could ask practical questions and better understand the opportunities and considerations involved in changing milking systems.
From labour management and herd health to operational efficiency and future expansion, visitors were able to explore how automation might fit into their own farming businesses.
Lely continues to place strong emphasis on open farm events, encouraging curious farmers to see automated dairy systems operating in real-world conditions.
Whether running grazing or barn-based operations, these events provide an opportunity to understand how automation, data and robotics can help improve both the lives and livelihoods of dairy farmers.
Looking Ahead: The Lely Southwest Roadshow
Farmers interested in exploring the future of dairy farming can attend the Lely Southwest Roadshow, running from 17-19 November.
The roadshow will provide an opportunity to discuss emerging trends in dairy farming, including data-driven decision making, artificial intelligence, robotics and what these technologies mean for farm productivity and everyday operations.
To learn more, visit www.lely.com/au.