Caldermeade Farm dairy - frequently asked questions

How often are the cows milked?
Twice a day - 4:30am and 3:30pm

How long does it take to milk?
400 cows are milked by two operators in approximately one hour and 40 minutes.

How many cows can fit on the milking platform?
50 cows.

How long does it take a platform to rotate?
10 minutes

What happens to the milk when it leaves the cow?
It is piped into a stainless steel refrigerated milk vat, where the temperature is dropped from 38C to 4C degrees within one hour of milking.

Can we buy Caldermeade Farm’s milk during our visit?
Sorry, no. By law it needs to be pasteurised.

How are cows identified?
Every cow has a name or number on an ear tag.

What are the numbers on the cows’ rump?
This is a freeze brand that identifies individual cows.

How do the cows know to get off the platform?
Cows are creatures of habit and there are several triggers (i.e. their heard mate leaving just before them.

What happens around the other side of the rotary that can’t be seen from the viewing room?
The cows are checked for even milk-out in all four quarters, the cups are removed and their teats are then sprayed with a sanitizing iodine teat dip to help prevent mastitis.

What are the cows being fed in the dairy?
Each cow gets 2-6 kg of grain as part of a supplementary feeding program for increased production and cow contentment.

Do cows get scared of the platform?
Cows actually enjoy the ride and some like to go around more than once if they get the chance.

What are the sprinklers spraying the cows in the yard for?
This is to cool the cows in summer and it reduces the impact of flies. It also makes cleaning easier.

Why do some of the cows look quite thin?
Dairy cows are milking athletes, similar to a competitor going to the Olympics. They are also naturally finer boned than beef cattle and put on weight only when they rest in the lead up to calving.

What breed are the black and white cows seen here?
Holsteins. Other milking breeds are Jerseys, Montbeliarde, Swedish Reds, Illawarras, Brown Swiss, Guernsey and Ayrshire.

Why do you have dogs in the yard?
At Caldermeade Farm dogs are an integral part of the operation. There is a well known saying; “one good working dog is worth two good men.” For us this is true. The dog brings the cows into the dairy and helps us in general stock work.