More Than Just a Feeder: How Greenline Gives This Farmer His Nights Back

Pete Garrett, a fourth-generation dairy farmer in southeast Queensland, is celebrating a century of his family's farming legacy next year. Milking 300 Holstein cows year-round for Norco, Pete is deeply committed to both his family's future and the efficiency of his operation. This commitment led him to DOM Distribution and the Greenline Ranger feed pusher, a decision that has significantly streamlined his farm's daily routine as part of DOM Distribution's revolutionary Greenline livestock robotic & automated feeding system, an Australian first: cattle fed without you.

"One of my focuses and one of my kind of things that I'm passionate about is positioning the business now so that in that 3, 5, 10 years time, when my children come through and have the opportunity to make a decision for their career, for the future, is that I'm well-positioned to provide an opportunity for them to come home and be part of the family business," Pete explains.

A Focus on Comfort and Sustainability

The Garrett family farm prioritizes animal comfort and sustainable practices. Their cows enjoy a "resort-like" environment with fresh feed, clean water, and comfortable compost bedding. Maintaining constant access to feed, however, was a persistent challenge. "I've always had an issue with being able to keep that feed up and accessible to the cow without the cow having to strain through and reach through and try to, like, you know, get that next mouthful," Pete shares.

Pete discovered the Rovibec Ranger at the World Dairy Expo in America. Impressed by its robust design and capabilities, his critical question was about local support. "The most critical thing is, do you have a dealer in Australia?" Pete asked. The answer, "Oh, we've got DOM," was music to his ears. "DOM's just down the road," he recounts with a smile.

Seamless Integration and Real-World Benefits

The installation process, handled by DOM Distribution, was smooth and efficient. "It was a pretty easy process really once we once we knew that design and what parameters we needed, and we just got the concrete right," Pete notes.

Now, the Greenline Ranger diligently pushes feed along the 160-meter pad every few hours, ensuring cows always have access to their balanced diet. This automation, a key component of the Greenline system, has brought immense benefits. "Cattle fed without you – that's what the Greenline system delivers. I don't have to worry anymore about, you know, particularly at nighttime when getting a good night's rest is far more important to me than getting out and manually pushing up feed," Pete emphasizes. "The robot's out there doing the job for me."

The Greenline Ranger has also optimized their feeding schedule, allowing them to mix and place 24 hours' worth of feed in one go. This frees up Pete and his staff to focus on other crucial tasks, improving overall farm productivity and employee well-being. Pete anticipates a yield increase due to consistent feed availability, particularly for younger, less dominant animals.

A Legacy of Innovation

Beyond the immediate benefits, the Greenline Ranger aligns perfectly with the Garrett family's long-standing commitment to sustainable farming. From his grandfather's pioneering contour banks to their current zero-till system and nutrient cycling, the farm consistently embraces innovation for environmental stewardship.

"The Ranger has absolutely done what we wanted to do, and yeah, I couldn't be happier," Pete concludes. "I'd thoroughly recommend if you're in the market for a feed pusher, check it out and talk to the guys at DOM."

Learn more about the Greenline Ranger feed pusher and how the Greenline automated feeding system can revolutionize your dairy operation.