DeLaval open day was well attended in Carlisle River.
The farming community flocked to DeLaval Australia’s VMS open day at the Lucas family dairy in Carlisle River, Western Victoria.
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The event showcased Nick and Janine Lucas transition from their long-serving 40-bale rotary to a DeLaval Voluntary Milking System, marking a significant step forward for their 330-cow, pasture-based operation.
About 100 people attended.
The Lucas family milk across 222 hectares acres in the foothills of the Otways, and their shift to automation reflects both the scale of their business and their focus on long-term sustainability, labour efficiency and herd performance.
Their farm provided an ideal setting for farmers to see a modern automated dairy, operating within a traditional Western Victorian grazing system.
Interest levels remained high throughout the day, with many producers engaging in detailed conversations about labour savings, cow flow and how robotics can integrate into their own operations.
The DeLaval and Rhy Evans Team, including Max Winter (Rhys Evans), Brian Monteith, Anthony Croft, Ben Foster, Tom Hastings, Jim Hare and Trent Lawrence — all from Delaval.
A key highlight of the open day was the strong DeLaval presence, with both sales and technical teams on hand to answer questions and guide farmers through the system.
Dairy automation is continuing to grow, particularly in western Victoria.
Attendees consistently commented on the depth of knowledge from the technical group, whose clear explanations helped demystify the technology and build confidence among those considering future investment.
The open day also underscored the strategic importance of Western Victoria for DeLaval, a region where demand for automation continues to grow.
Andrew Currie from Delaval explains the VMS 300 Robotic milking system.
The event was delivered in partnership with local dealer Rhys Evans and Westpac, whose combined support helped drive attendance and create a professional, engaging environment for farmers.
The open day demonstrated the value of bringing farmers on-farm to see technology working in real conditions.
It also reinforced the momentum around automated milking in Western Victoria, where producers are increasingly exploring solutions that support labour management, herd health insights and overall operational resilience.
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