by Nick Rowe
If someone told you that a robot had changed their way of life, giving them more time and flexibility as well as making them feel years younger, you might think they had been watching too many science fiction movies. However, for Luke and Mel Wallace the introduction of a robotic dairy to their farm in Poowong has done just that.
Wallacedale Jerseys is a third generation family operation managed by Luke with the support of his wife Mel and dad Cliff. The business milks about 160 Jersey cows and is a supplier for local milk company Gippsland Jersey.
The farm had run a traditional herringbone dairy system and milked close to 200 cows until November last year when it introduced the new robotic dairy to its operations.

Supplied by Lely Centre Gippsland, the "Astronaut" twin robot system h