Running a modern dairy is more than just milking cows. For Brad Fischer, owner of Campbell House Dairy in Meningie, quality, efficiency and peace of mind are central to his business.
Supplying up to six niche processors, including Golden North, The Yoghurt Shop, Fleurieu Milk and La Casa Del Formaggio, Brad’s farm is the foundation for boutique products that rely on high-quality milk.
But maintaining that quality requires precision. Milk must be chilled rapidly from cow to vat, staff must recognise problems early, and energy-intensive equipment must be managed efficiently to keep costs down. To achieve this, Brad partnered with Sol Energy, led by Director Simon McKay, to install a comprehensive monitoring and control system across the dairy.
The new system measures power consumption across major equipment and tracks temperatures through the milk lines, hot water systems and thermal storage. Installed in early 2025, the system provides real-time data and integrates seamlessly into Campbell House Dairy’s existing infrastructure.
The project cost around $25,000, but Simon said it will pay for itself within a couple of years, as energy efficiencies alone are predicted to deliver savings of $10,000 to $15,000 annually, while the value of peace of mind and operational continuity is immeasurable.
Brad sees the project not as a one-off investment, but as part of a bigger journey: “We’ve been working with Sol Energy for more than 10 years, managing our power. This monitoring system is the next step,” Brad said.
Milk quality first
For Brad, the driver was not energy savings, but milk quality. “My staff’s job is to milk cows. If the milking machine isn’t doing what it’s supposed to, or milk is going into the vat warm, that’s not acceptable. With this monitoring, we know immediately if something’s wrong,” he said.
This is especially critical given Campbell House’s role in supplying niche processors who demand consistency.
Temperature sensors now ensure milk moves from 38°C inside the cow to 1.5°C at the vat in under 90 seconds. If chilling systems falter, alerts notify staff immediately, allowing issues to be fixed before quality is compromised.
Energy efficiency
While Brad’s focus was quality, Simon emphasises the energy efficiency potential: “By isolating loads like refrigeration and hot water, and understanding Brad’s spot-price energy contract, we can now manage usage in smarter ways,” Simon said.
Brad’s system integrates a 100kW solar array and upgraded mains, with capacity to expand to 500kW. The monitoring now allows load-shifting: running refrigeration harder when electricity prices are low and scaling back when prices spike.
“This sort of optimisation wasn’t possible before,” Simon said. “Now, we’re not just reacting to bills, we’re managing costs in real time.”
The Narrung Peninsula is notorious for unreliable power. For dairy farmers, outages are disastrous: milking stalls, pumps stop, and cups fall from cows. Before, Brad’s team had to scramble for tractors, generators and manual resets, costing up to 45 minutes and creating mess and stress.
Brad has invested in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which powers the dairy seamlessly until the generator kicks in.
“For anyone who’s milked cows, power failure is a nightmare,” Brad said. “Now, it’s seamless. My staff don’t even know if the generator’s running. That peace of mind is huge.”
Remote monitoring
Brad is no stranger to technology. With 18 cameras already monitoring his dairy and barns, and remote irrigation scheduling from as far away as Europe, the new system fits right in.
“Whether I’m in Sweden with my wife’s family, or at home, I can check what’s happening. I can tell someone to turn on a chiller or fix a pump. It all integrates into one portal, which makes it simple,” Brad said.
This flexibility is essential for managing a 500-cow herd across three daily milkings that run from 2.30am to 11.30pm. There is little margin for delays, and remote oversight helps Brad manage issues before they escalate.
Ultimately, Brad’s motivation is about ensuring his milk is the best possible input for award-winning products. “If Golden North wins awards, I know my milk helped them get there. Even if it had nothing to do with me beyond the raw milk, I know we supplied the best milk possible,” he said.
This commitment is why monitoring is so valuable. By logging temperature data, ensuring staff are alerted to problems, and maintaining energy-efficient chilling, Brad has confidence that his milk meets the highest standards every time.
As Brad puts it: “99% of what we’ve done with Simon is peace of mind. I know that my staff, my cows and my customers are covered.”
Future directions
The monitoring project is just the beginning. With capacity for more solar and the growing viability of batteries, Brad is eyeing further energy independence.
“A battery will be key,” Simon said. “With this setup, we can charge when prices are low, discharge when high, and use solar more effectively. The monitoring is what makes that optimisation possible.”
In a constantly changing energy market, flexibility is critical. “The more levers you’ve got, the better you can manage costs,” Simon said.
Read more about Brad Fischer’s dairy here: https://dairy-safe.com.au/cow-palace-delivering-results/
