The transformative power of on-farm technology

Halarda Farms Ltd., located in Elm Creek, Man., is advancing their business with innovative ideas, leveraging the latest technology and ensuring sustainability for future generations. As one of the province’s largest dairy farms now utilizing robotic milking units, the Borst family behind the business isn’t shy about taking on new challenges.

Initially acquired by Anton Borst’s parents, who emigrated from Holland with their five children in 1984, the farm has grown significantly from its early days of milking 80 cows. Today, it’s a multi-generational enterprise poised to continue growing. “In 2013, my wife, Cheryl, and I officially took it over,” Borst says. “And as of 2023, my son and his wife became partners in the farm.”

With the next generation now on board, Halarda Farms continues to evolve, seizing new opportunities and consistently planning for the future. This forward-thinking approach keeps the farm at the forefront of agricultural innovation.

The journey to robotics

By 2007, Halarda Farms was milking about 635 cows in a double-ten parlour. A new milking parlour was needed, and it became apparent that a system change was necessary to keep up with growth. Robotics, though, were not initially part of their plan. “We were skeptical because the common advice was that robotic milking was for smaller farms with 60 to 100 cows, not for larger farms,” Borst says.

However, after touring a robotic milking facility, the Borsts were intrigued by the system’s potential. It provided extensive information for herd management and addressed a looming issue: labour. “We were running 24-hour shifts, which was tough. I didn’t want to impose those shifts on myself or my kids, who were very young. We also didn’t think we could sustain hiring people for those shifts,” Borst says.

Realizing the benefits, the Borsts decided to embrace robotic milking.

Technological integration

Halarda Farms now uses Lely robotic milking systems to optimize operations. Their 1,300 milking cows now wear computerized collars that monitor various aspects of their movement, nutrition and health, offering the family a wealth of data and a more streamlined management system. Cows are sorted and, when necessary, separated automatically into pens for health concerns or routine tasks such as hoof trimming and vaccinations.

“Some of the biggest improvements are that the cows can operate on their schedule. We got a nice production increase, partly due to higher milking frequency,” Borst says.

“Cow comfort improved significantly, which also contributed to the production increase,” he says. “Additionally, the information we get from the robots and activity collars makes managing the herd much easier.”

The system enables the Borst family to fully harness their management potential and drive growth without overextending their resources or capabilities.

Looking ahead

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