Protect your Pump from Frost with a Pump Saver

How does a pump saver work?

When the temperature drops, the lamp will come on automatically and give enough heat to protect the pump from frost damage. To increase frost protection, you can also insulate the pump shed and lag pipes.

A pump saver only needs to save your pump from frost once to pay for itself. With Invercargill having an average of 95 frosty days per year, it’s pretty easy for pump saver to pay for itself down South.

What are the Advantages of a Pump Saver?

It goes without saying, saving your pump from frost damage will save you money. Ongoing maintenance costs could also be reduced because the pump saver stops the pump from freezing up, which could stress parts. The Pump Saver will only operate when the temperature drops to freezing (or whatever pre-set level). There are also other heating options, such as using a small space heater for larger areas. Having a pump saver can offer you peace of mind during the winter months and ensure you have a plumbing system that is reliable and long-lasting.

A Pump Saver is Easy to Install

Installation is simple. All you need is a 230-volt power outlet to supply the pump saver. It’s designed to be left on all the time and come on automatically. It can be installed by anybody, as long as there is a constant power source available. The heat lamp can easily be checked by dialling up the temperature on the thermostat.

Mount the pump saver thermostat on the wall alongside the pump (making sure the heat lamp is not shining onto the thermostat). Hang the heat lamp above the pump using a hook and make sure it at least 450mm away from surfaces.

Set the thermostat to 2°C and plug it into a continuous power supply, making sure the plug is not controlled by a floating switch or pressure switch as this would cause the heat lap to only come on when the pump is running.

Nind Dairy Services are experts in pumping systems and water products for Dairy farms. For more information on getting a Pump Saver call Andy at Nind Dairy Services on 0800 50 22 50.

Is it time to change your liners and rubberware?

All rubberware should be changed regularly. With milking machines, liners and tube having to meet strict hygiene regulation. Rubber liners, for example, last around 2500 milkings and deteriorate with time and usage. What you might not be able to see with the naked eye, is surface damage made to the liner over time, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria and can cause damage to cows’ teats, increasing the risk of infection.

As the only part of the milking shed that comes into contact with the cows’ teats, liners have a direct impact on your herd health. What you might not realise, is liners are one of the hardest working parts of the dairy shed – opening and closing over 2.5 million times during use. They’re also exposed to high temperatures and harsh chemicals to keep them clean, but these can contribute to the breakdown of the rubber and mean milk deposits end up left on the surface over time.

Studies show that between 2000-3000 milkings the level of damage to the teat increases significantly. This form of damage to the cow’s teat means it loses natural resistance to bacteria and pathogens, leading to incidences of mastitis and higher somatic cell count.

Stretching your liners to last is a false economy, so it pays to be on top of your liners and change them regularly to maintain your milk quality and the health of your herd.

If you have any questions or would like to order liners for your dairy shed, contact Nind Dairy Services on 0800 50 22 50 or email dairy@nind.co.nz.

Have you booked in your milk machine testing?

Testing early in the season not only ensures that potential problems are picked up, but it also reduces delays due to the last-minute rush to compliance.

Milk machine testing is now a requirement and for good reason. Nobody likes the sound of a full plant failure and the associated cost of that downtime. Machine malfunctions can cause teat damage, increasing the risk of infection in your stock. An annual test by a registered milk machine tester will help keep things running smoothly, and ensure you meet compliance.

Milk Machine Testing

Milk machine testing is now part of regulation, with all dairy sheds needing to undertake a test twice a year. There are practical reasons as to why testing takes place. Faulting milking equipment is estimated to cause between 40-50% of clinical cases within NZ dairy herds. As a major exporter of dairy products and equipment, New Zealand must conform to milking machine standards set by the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

What’s involved in Milk Machine Testing?

Testers must be MPTA Certified, this ensures they’re up with the latest information on milk machine testing, and their work is checked against the rest of the industry.

Milk Machine Testing has three parts:

  • A vacuum test checking for any leaks, restrictions or damage
  • A visual report with all the components checked and ticked off
  • A summary of recommendations with what is required to the machine working back to full capacity

Any deficiencies are noted in the report and whether minor or major, it’s good to address them all – as minor faults can become major if disregarded. When you’re using the dairy plant day after day, little drops won’t be picked up on, but this test will ensure those issues are picked up on immediately and can be addressed. It can pre-empt equipment failure, saving you from some major failures that can be time-consuming and costly.

Why choose Nind Dairy Services for Milk Machine Testing?

The Nind Dairy Services team have fully certified testers (Farm Dairy Assessor qualification) and carry state-of-the-art testing equipment to make the process as quick and easy as possible. All Nind Dairy Services vehicles are fully equipped with consumables and tools to fix any small problems that may arise. This can be a huge saving, as some small fixes can stop larger problems developing and on-the-spot fixes cut return visit costs.

Announcing the Dairy Industry Awards Winners for Otago and Southland

Congratulations to all those winners at the Dairy Industry awards for Otago and Southland, and well done to all those who entered and were awarded at the show. We have an incredibly talented industry across Otago and Southland and Nind Dairy Services are proud to be a part of it.

The Winners of the 2018 Dairy Industry Awards for Otago and Southland are…

Dairy Trainee of the Year 2018:

  • Winner – Simone Smail
  • Runner-up – Shannon Bunn
  • Third – Caycee Cormack

Dairy Manager of the Year 2018:

  • Winner – Jaime McCrostie
  • Runner-up - Chloe Mackle
  • Third – James Matheson

Share Farmer of the Year 2018:

  • Winner – Simon & Hilary Vallely
  • Runner-up – Steven & Hayley Clarke
  • Third – Jason Checketts

With the new milk cooling regulations, what are your options with Nind Dairy Services?

What are the new milk regulations?

All farms from 1st June 2018 must have raw milk:

  1. Cooled to 10’c or below within four hours of the commencement of milking
  2. And be cooled to 6’c or below within six hours from the commencement of milking OR two hours from the completion of milking
  3.  And be held at or below 6’c without freezing until collection or the next milking
  4.  And must not exceed 10’c during subsequent milking

New milk cooling standards come into effect on all farms across New Zealand on the 1st June 2018.

Not only are milk cooling regulations coming in at a national level, but individual milking companies such as Mataura, are having their own milk cooling regulations to ensure their milk is up to standard.

Why is milk cooling so important?

Quick and efficient milk cooling is essential to maintain milk quality, prevent bacterial growth and avoid constituent changes during processing. Naturally occurring bacteria in the milk start multiplying straight away, and if temperatures rise above 4’c, the amount of bacterial growth can be exponential. Because bacterial growth is seriously reduced at below 4’c, Mataura’s milking standard is to have all milk at below 4.4’c within two hours of milking. This ensures milk has a stronger life shelf and is a higher quality product.

Bacterial Milk Quality Compliance and the Regulatory Issues:

  • Bactoscan (bacteria count, milk chilling related)
  • Thermoduric (heat resistant bacteria)
  • Coliforms (wet weather / manure bacteria)

How can Nind Dairy Services help?

Nind Dairy Services can firstly assess your current set up to see if you meet the new regulations, and if not, can discuss the different options to help you meet the regulations.

Nind Dairy Services supply and service a full range of cooling systems. If your current cooling system doesn’t meet the new milking regulations, Nind Dairy can recommend you a secondary cooling option that may include heat recovery (giving you the added benefit of hot water as a by-product of the cooling process). A new set up may also be more energy efficient and could save you up to 37% when compared to standard vat chillers.

Snap chilling all milk immediately upon harvest to 6’c is the most reliable method of meeting the new milk cooling standards and will give you peace of mind. Glycol chilling (snap chilling) with the AquaCHILL snap chiller is one simple retrofit option that might work really well on your farm. It’s a ‘plug and play’ solution that is incredibly versatile. The AquaTESS system is an energy efficient option that uses thermal energy storage and can be configured in many options and sizes that might work well for you.

Milk cooling accounts for approx. a third of power costs, so it’s important to consider the options and keep your equipment up to date as old equipment can be inefficient in terms of energy usage. With the new regulations coming into place, it is more important than ever to get your system assessed and get onto having a milk cooling system that meets the new milk cooling standards.

Have you checked your water supply?

Summer is fast approaching. Now is the time to check on your water, around the farm and in your tanks – to see if your pumps are working efficiently, or if you need to upgrade to better cope with the upcoming dry season. No farmer wants to get caught out over the dry season with a no water on their property for their stock, shed or house hold. Breakdowns can also be incredibly costly, not just with pump replacement costs, but with stoppages in work, and even potential risks of water contamination.

Nind Dairy Services recommend having your pumps checked regularly, especially your bore pump, and ideally before the dry season. You could save money having your pump regularly serviced, as opposed to the costs of buying a full replacement. If you see any drop in water supply levels, best to have it checked – a service and clean, with diagnostic testing, could increase your water supply significantly, and more importantly, increase the life of your pump – reducing your on-farm costs.

Nind Dairy Services are one of Davey Pumps master dealers, with Nind Dairy Services staff regularly trained on the latest in Davey Pump technology and additional trouble shooting and servicing. This allows our staff to be excellent at troubleshooting and problem solving around water supply issues on your property.

Davey Pumps offer a wide variety of pumps and water systems to meet all water needs across the dairy industry; from waste water filtration to stock water, domestic, irrigation and shed needs. We stock the full range of Davey Pumps 4” submersible borehole pumps, and find them to be incredibly robust and reliable, with Nind Dairy Services working with them extensively for years.

Now is the time to check your water storage and supply for the upcoming summer. If you have any concerns about the coming season and water levels on your property, best to contact the team at Nind Dairy Services to see how we can help on 0800 50 22 50.

Hit snooze this summer with the GEA iCR Cluster Remover

Installing automatic cluster removers allows you to free up staff during milking times, giving everyone an opportunity to hit the snooze button this summer.  

Some of the key benefits:

  • Reallocate labour to other on farm/ management tasks
  • Standardizes the milking routine when coupled with auto teat sprayers
  • Improve udder health with reduced over milking
     

GEA iCR Cluster Remover features:

  • Easy upgrade options – bail restraints & teat spraying
  • Hand held remote for easy programming
  • Highly visible mode indicators on the ram
  • Easy kick off identification in a herringbone – cluster lowers into the pit
  • Very low maintenance and easily accessible rams


See the brochure here.

Lock in your 2017 order in and lock in your discount! Call your local GEA Sales Manager on 027 588 5961 or Nind Dairy Services on 03 211 0307.

Omakau First Response unit benefits from $70,000 raised by local farmers

Nind Dairy Services are very proud to have been a sponsor for Central Otago's first Winter Feed Competition. The event dinner, awards and charity auction were a great success with over two hundred people attending. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and a real highlight for everyone was bringing the two valleys and different generations together to support Omakau First Response.

From the money raised the Omakau First Response are now able to purchase a new Lifepak 15 Monitor and Defribillator. Click to read more.

We'd like to give a special thank you to Hamish & Emma Stratford from Omakau who helped add to the final total raised by bidding $500 for the Milking Machine Test Voucher supplied by Nind Dairy Services.

We look forward to supporting this great event again in 2018!

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