Significant changes under way at Telford Farms near Balclutha are intended to keep agricultural students up to date with farming practices.
A new 54-bail rotary dairy shed will be opened by Clutha-Southland MP Bill English on Friday, a change from the traditional 50-degree herringbone milking shed.
Telford Farms board chairman Mike Elliot said the rotary dairy shed had been equipped with state-of-the-art technology, making it possible to analyse milk production at any time to ensure quality control.
"As the cows enter the shed via the platform their tags will be read, allowing for individual cow production to be pulled up and analysed at the end of milking.
"Herd testing can be done on any day and individual cows identified and then automatically drafted out as they leave the dairy shed."
He said the shed, with a raised viewing platform that overlooks the rotary shed and a large covered vet area with a 15-bail herringbone type pit with a lift-out floor, was ideal for student learning.
The farms are about 7km from Balclutha, and allow Telford, a division of Lincoln University, to provide hands-on learning for its students.
Telford Farms has also invested in a wintering shed as part of the large pastoral programme that will be run on the dairy farm for the next five years.
Mr Elliot said the dairy farm managed three separate herds, treating them all differently throughout the milking and wintering seasons.
A late-calving herd would feed at optimal levels, while a restricted access herd would be wintered in the shed and, during heavy rainfall periods, would spend time off grass to avoid pasture and soil damage.
The third and largest group of control cows would be farmed using best practices.
"Another key aspect for practical on-farm skills is tractor-driving and Telford Farms is leading the way with the appointment of a full-time tractor instructor," Mr Elliot said.
"When students leave Telford they will have experience and skills in cultivation, sowing and mowing on flat and rolling hill country."
Scientific work is also carried out on the farms, adding to the knowledge of the vocational training students at Telford.
