Will Mahony, 22, works as a farm hand and manages the technical side of the dairy at the Mahony family farm in Bookar. The family chose to install DeLaval robotic milkers instead of a new rotary system, which influenced Will's decision to forgo university studies in mechanical engineering.
"The family chose to install DeLaval robotic milkers instead of a new rotary system."
The farm, spanning 100 years and four generations, returned to conventional farming from organic practices. The herd, primarily Holsteins, numbers around 400-500 during autumn, with plans to increase to 550-600 with an additional robot.
Seven robots began operation in August 2024, replacing a 40-year-old rotary dairy. After an initial adjustment period, 80% of the herd voluntarily presents for milking. The system provides flexibility in scheduling and has reduced stress on cows and staff. Milk production has increased since the switch.
The farm plans to install an additional vat to eliminate downtime during milk collection and will implement four shorter calving periods to flatten milk production for contract purposes.