With dry conditions continuing it was a sight for sore eyes to travel through green paddocks to Nanima which forms part of Moxey Farms dairying facility on the Cowra Road.
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The coach carrying Forbes College for Seniors were welcomed by Janet Moxey.
Sean Haynes, Head of Operations, welcomed the large group onto the viewing platform to observe milking in progress in the 80 stand rotary parlour.
In addition to the main dairy facility at Gooloogong, Moxey Farms operates over several farms now located between Forbes and Cowra employing over 200 people.
This would make it one of the largest employers in the Forbes Shire, employing people from Canowindra, Cowra, Forbes and Grenfell.
Currently 5,800 cows are milked in two parlours, a 100 stall herringbone and one 80 stall rotary, three times daily.
Each cow yields approximately 40 litres with over 230,000 litres of milk being delivered to dairy processors on a daily basis.
This is well in excess of the Australian average.
Cows are housed in barns with feed brought to them.
The cows can walk around the barn to water, exercise and sleep on sand beds.
Hygiene is an important factor in which the cows teats are cleaned and dried prior to milking.
While each group of cows are being milked the barns are cleaned of any manure and beds are refreshed.
The tour viewed calf rearing facilities well as discussed how manure is recycled by composting as well as new developments.
These developments included a methane digester which would produce electricity for the site from cow manure.
"As dairying continues to change, the embracing of technology is important, particularly as Moxey Farms continues to expand,” Mr Hayes said.
Trevor Drury then thanked Mr Hayes for his very informative talk and answering the many wide and varied questions.
Refreshment and lunch was taken at the Gooloogong Hotel before departing home to Forbes on board Hennocks coach.
