7 February 2008 New insight into advantages of Once-a-Day milking for farming families

Recent research at Lincoln University has highlighted the impacts of switching from Twice-a-Day (TAD) milking to Once-a-Day (OAD) milking on New Zealand dairy farms.

The research report, entitled “The Human Face of Once-a-Day Milking,” (PDF, 619 KB) is based on in-depth interviews with 20 farming families and reveals major benefits for family life, family relationships and personal job satisfaction for farmers. It points out the difference between good stress, which can be personally challenging and invigorating, and distress or drudgery, which can be demotivating and lead to burnout. It also shows how OAD milking can extend a farmer’s working life, providing a bridging pre-retirement management system, and can free up discretionary time to use for personal or family projects.

The researchers, Dr Rupert Tipples and Nona Verwoerd, say dairy farming as a family venture in New Zealand is under threat, but for family farms at least, OAD may represent a life raft which might encourage young people to make a career in dairy farming.

The report concludes: “Dairy farmers are tired. Not because of hard work, but because of too much pressure. OAD offers a way to farm better and longer and even, possibly, to make more money. It offers a way for farming families to survive as families; it adds up to better quality of living.”

The researchers found that OAD milking has given many dairy farmers the chance to cease to employ staff on a full-time basis, which reduces a regular source of stress.  That stress might have resulted from legal compliance issues, from staff letting the dairy farmer down, or from the loss of independence and freedom that being an employer entails.

However the report also identifies some disadvantages in OAD milking, including longer milking times, difficulties in arranging tanker pick-ups, and the risk of creating a glass ceiling for dairy farmers who are reluctant to employ staff.  It also notes that the “jury is still out” on the issue of somatic cell counts.

The research was funded by Dairy Insight, Livestock Improvement Corporation and Lincoln University Research Fund.  The full report is available here. (PDF, 619 KB).

About the Agriculture and Life Sciences Division
Agriculture and Life Sciences is Lincoln University’s second-largest division, providing teaching and research in a number of areas, including: animal science, farm management, horticultural management; and food and wine science.   It has a number of specialised research units including the Centre for Soil and Environmental Quality; Centre for Viticulture and Oenology; and Centre for Advanced Computational Solutions. The Division operates its own vineyard, horticultural research area, winery and nursery, and has three research farms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Elizabeth Owens
External Relations Director
Lincoln University
Phone: 027 249 1960

Dr Rupert Tipples
Senior Lecturer in Employment Relations
Lincoln University
Phone 03 325 2811