AV Farm, whose parent company is Hewitt Creek Farm in Innisfil, uses robotic farming to help with milking, feeding and creating a hygienic environment.
AV Farms is putting a new twist on one of dairy farming’s most established practices.
The company installed Grand River Robotics farm equipment to help with milking, feeding and creating a hygienic environment “to prevent health issues and promote cow comfort.” Equipment used includes three Lely Astronaut Robots, a Juno Flex, a Grazeway Sort Gate, an automatic calf feeder with hygienic box and three Hoofcount automatic footbaths.
AV Farms, named after the initials of husband and wife Andrew and Victoria Seip Aiseth, is a family-owned dairy farm in Oro-Medonte. The company is transitioning its dairy division from parent company Hewitt Creek Farms. The new location opened May 21.
Andrew’s father is farmer and Innisfil City Councilman Kevin Ises, who calls his son and daughter-in-law “the next generation of farmers.” His great-grandfather bought land on Innisfil Beach Road in 1961, and Andrew is a fourth-generation farmer.
Andrew said he always wanted to be a farmer, and now he and his wife run the business alongside his father, grandfather John, and employees.
When asked which machine he likes best and how it has revolutionized the way he works, he explained, “When my grandfather and great-grandfather first started milking cows, it was (very) manual work, milking each cow individually, twice a day, in what are called tie-barns, where the individual milking units were transported to where the cows were.”
“I really like the milking robot,” he says. “It really helps in terms of creating a relaxed environment for the cows and allowing them to be milked voluntarily, while at the same time giving us farmers flexibility in our schedules as we don’t have to be in the barn at fixed times to be milked.”
Victoria works full time in the agriculture sector, dealing in animal feed ingredients, and on weekends she helps with household chores and arranges vaccinations.
“She also gives us a fresh perspective on where we can improve,” says Andrew. “She has a keen eye for animals and picks things up quicker than I do, whereas I have a better ability to see the bigger picture, which helps with planning and problem-solving.”
When asked about animal welfare, Andrew replied, “We have always strived to provide the highest quality care possible for our farm animals, and the new facility gives us even more tools to do that – improved ventilation, more space, more comfortable bedding, as well as the latest equipment that allows us to monitor a variety of data points about the animals’ health.”
“Innisfil has been a wonderful home for our farm and we’re so proud to have been a part of this community for the past 60-plus years,” Andrew said. “It’s incredible to see it grow to the size it is today.”
To learn more about Hewitt Creek Farms, check out their Facebook page.
