Drink Real Milk (DRM) conceptualiser Nutramix has introduced milking machine which is expected to significantly reduce milk production time for farmers, improve the quality of milk produced and positively impact earnings.

The machine, which was unveiled by the company at a dairy seminar in St Thomas recently, is being sold for $500,000. Farmers will be able to purchase the machines from Nutramix, on a 24-month payment plan.The milking machines will add great value to farmers who are currently hand milking by improving efficiency, sanitation and facilitate increased earnings for farmers.At the dairy seminar, farmers were also informed about the Nutramix Dairy Feeding Programme which incorporates the combined use of two new minerals, namely Kalvolac milk replacer and Nutravit vitamin pack, as well as the use of Nutramix dairy feeds.Since the introduction of the programme, farmers have been ecstatic about the results such as the garnering of healthier calves, increased savings and more profits.Trials within the St Thomas area have shown that by following the programme, farmers can achieve higher quality meats from beef cattle, as well as a better grade yield and up to two additional litres per cow per day for dairy farmers.Prior to the DRM campaign, the industry average was less than nine litres per cow, per day. A year later, many farmers are now averaging 12 litres or more by focusing on hygiene, sanitation, farm and pasture management, and feeding programmes.Dairy farmer Oniel Thompson experienced some rough times as a dairy farmer and almost gave up. However, with the upswing in milk production, he has been lured back into the business.“When I started out it was rough and I almost gave up but I am now back in the dairy business and I like what is happening. What I have learnt from the seminar will help me a lot in how I run the business. The use of the minerals was very enlightening”, said Thompson.Thompson also has plans to purchase one of the milking machines to enhance production on his farm.Ainsworth Riley of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) had high praises for the seminar.“The session was very good and I think the presentation was down to earth and at a level that the farmers can understand. The questions that they asked and the discussion they had, were meaningful and show that the farmers benefitted from the training”, Riley said.Livestock Support Manager at Newport Mills Dr Gabrielle Young was the presenter for the seminar. Among the areas she spoke about were prevention of contamination, proper sanitation, good husbandry practices and cleaning of equipment.Similar seminars were held in Cabbage Valley, St Elizabeth, and Rhymesbury, Clarendon.