Although many experts say that a small-scale dairy don’t pay, there is room for the small operator to supply local markets. And everyone must start somewhere. The advantages of the modern milking machine are not really debatable; mainly because milking by hand, although feasible, is very time consuming, and hygiene is not as easy to control.
Small-scale dairymen are generally intimidated by the thought of costly milking machinery – but here is an example of separate units, from European company GEA, which can be purchased a unit at a time. A single unit, cluster, line and milk bucket is very reasonably priced. And farmers can add to the plant as finances permit. Centralising may make things easier when it comes to collection and transport of raw milk.
Any combination is possible – a few farmers could get together with this model, perhaps with each dairyman paying for one unit. Government funding may be worth exploring for this type of dairy.
These systems need power but solar power is not necessarily excluded.
For more information contact jaco.mostert@gea.com





The cluster attached to a Jersey cow. For all that the animals were being milked in a strange environment, there seemed to be a high degree of milking ease, with cows appearing relaxed and calm.

The stalls were set up in an existing shed open on one side. The shade is a bonus and the cows can be led into the stalls from the open side.



