Customer Testimonials
Dairy farmers worldwide face similar challenges around animal welfare, farm profitability, food safety and work efficiency. At DeLaval, we deliver a diverse assortment of fully integrated solutions with a purpose to address these challenges. See what our happy customers have to say about the challenges they faced and how DeLaval solutions help them address those issues and - most importantly - solve them.
Jones Farms
Farm location
Stevinson, California
Herd size
800
"In 15 minutes, I can look at all the reports I need to and gauge how the whole system is going - cows to fetch, milking intervals, incompletes - it’s all right here on the screen. I didn’t have access to all this information before, so I feel like I died and went to heaven." - Rick Jones
Rick and Julie Jones of Jones Farms milk 800 cows on 2 DeLaval VMS™ milking system classic robots and 12 DeLaval VMS™ milking system V300 robots. By using DelPro™ Farm Manager, Rick is able to view how the whole system is working, all in one spot on the farm. Jones Farms also uses DeLaval liners & tubes, DeLaval acids & detergents and DeLaval teat dip.
Hulleman Farms
Farm location
Lacombe, Alberta
Herd size
100
"We milk 50 cows per robot. The nice thing is with the V300 that there’s so much capacity left over. There’s 30% idle time on one robot. So we can grow in the robot." - Martijn Hulleman
The Hullemans of Lacombe, Alberta arrived at a crossroads when deciding on the future of their dairy. “We were looking into are we going to hire somebody or are we going to go invest in technology,” said owner Martijn Hulleman. He and his wife, Moniek, ultimately opted for dairy automation with the installation of two DeLaval VMS™ milking system V300 units in 2019. Hulleman Farms has also installed DeLaval Optiduo™ Robotic Feed Refresher. They keep their milking system running smoothly with DeLaval acid & alkaline detergents and DeLaval teat dips.
Clemson University
Farm location
Clemson, South Carolina
Herd size
200
"This was a great solution to help with our labor issues, demonstrate modern solutions for our producers, and allows our researchers to explore dairy nutrition and dairy management research that’s relevant to robotic milkers which is something unique for universities in general and particularly for those in the Southeast." - John Andrae
The LaMaster Dairy Unit at Clemson University milks 200 cows with three DeLaval VMS™ milking system V300s. They maximize cow comfort using three DeLaval SCB swinging cow brushes and use DelPro™ Farm Manager and DeLaval Activity Meters to optimize performance on the dairy. The LaMaster Dairy Unit has implemented teat dips, detergents, liners, milk filters and cooling solutions from DeLaval as well.
Hillcrest Farms Inc
Farm location
Dearing, Georgia
Herd size
320
"The use of technology is great because we’re incorporating a lot of cameras. Besides the cameras on the robots, on the calving cows, dry cows, and the farm itself, we can look at stuff when we’re not on premise and make decisions when we’re not here. This is the big picture of technology with dry cows, and close up cows, and robots that will make us shine in this upcoming project."
- Mark Rodgers
Hillcrest Farms is the first in Georgia robotically milking its 320 cows. Start-up of the dairy’s five VMS™ V300 units happened in fall of 2019 and owner Mark Rodgers has been happy with the transition his dairy has undergone. All of the planning and scrutinizing has been worth it knowing the next generation will soon take-over. According to Mark, robotic milking “…fits the millennial mind-set a little better. It gives them more flexibility.” Hillcrest Farms also hosts farm tours complete with a new visitors center explaining the process of milking a cow from start to finish. In addition to their robots, they use DeLaval SCB swinging cow brushes, DelPro™ Farm Manager, DeLaval Activity meters, DeLaval liners & milk filters, DeLaval cooling, DeLaval teat dips and DeLaval acid & alkaline detergents.
Juno Dairy
Farm location
Diamond City, Alberta
Herd size
155
"We were milking 3x for years and everything always revolved around milking time now with the V300’s its very flexible. We all adapted very quick to this, and sure don’t miss the night milking anymore." - Alex Huisman
Alex and Coranda Huisman & family milk 155 cows 3x/day using three DeLaval VMS™ milking system V300s at their farm, Juno Dairy. To improve herd health and increase reproduction results, Juno Dairy has also implemented DeLaval activity meters on their operation.
Cranbrook Farms
Farm location
Brussels, Ontario
Herd size
394
"The V300 will change the way barns are designed. We can go with more free stalls on a V300." - Joe Terpstra
Cranbrook Farm was one of the first in Canada to install a VMS V300 robot. Owners Joe and Chelsea Terpstra has seen fast, smooth attachments; quick milking times; few kick-offs; and fast milk let-downs. All of this efficiency adds up to what Joe says will be 70 cows per robot. Six DeLaval SCB swinging cow brushes keep their cows happy and they also use DeLaval Optiduo™ Robotic Feed Refresher to keep feed remixed and refreshed. Other DeLaval solutions implemented on the farm include: DeLaval calf feeder CF1000S, DelPro™ Farm Manager with Cow Health Index, DeLaval alkaline detergent, DeLaval acid detergent, DeLaval teat dips
Delhome Farms
Farm location
Milverton, Ontario
Herd size
150
“I think it goes back to being able to get that milker on and harvest the milk within a minute to two minutes of being prepped. Cows like it. They milk out better. It works really well. Very few kickoffs – that’s pleasing – and very few incompletes. That means not nearly as many cows to fetch. We’re quite happy with it honestly. I have no regrets at this point.” - Ron Riddell
Delhome Farms is owned by Ron and Debbie Riddell & family in Milverton, Ontario. Ron says he enjoys the efficiency of their DeLaval DeLaval VMS™ milking system V300 and the decreased number of fetch cows. The Riddell family also uses other DeLaval solutions, including a DeLaval SCB swinging cow brush, DelPro™ Farm Manager with Cow Health Index, DeLaval detergents and teat dips.
Hepler Farms
Farm location
Pitman, Pennsylvania
Herd size
130
“We chose guided-flow because we could save on feed costs and minimize our fetch cows, and we needed to be more flexible since it’s only three of us here. We farm 400 acres, so we needed to be more flexible to be able to manage the cows and grow good crops for the cows. It was a perfect fit for us.” - Dalton Miller
Dalton Miller has big goals for himself and Hepler Farms, where he manages the operation of two DeLaval VMS™ V300 units. After milking for years in an old tie stall barn, their new robotic milking facility not only takes better care of the cows, but the guided-flow set up also affords greater operational flexibility.
Lapp Brothers Farm
Farm location
Kinzers, Pennsylvania
Herd size
86
“I really like the robots because they actually make the cows cleaner, teat wise, than I did. When I change the filter there’s less dirt on the filter than when we got them ready (in the parlor). They are also a lot tamer. I can go out and scratch their backs. They are kind of my friends now.” – Paul Fisher
Paul Fisher owns and operates two DeLaval VMS™ V300 robots in a rented facility on the Lapp Brothers Farm in Pennsylvania. Looking to maximize efficiency and spend less time in the barn, Paul chose the DeLaval robots, in part, because of its reliable and accurate camera system. This, and unit’s patented teat prep and cleaning program, convinced Paul that the DeLaval machine was a good investment for the future of his dairy operation.