Fourth-generation dairy farmer Chelsea Donhardt is not only producing premium milk, she is also helping shape what people think about the modern dairy sector.
As co-owner of Nangkita Dairies, alongside her husband Reece, parents Michael and Jodie Connor and brother Jake, Chelsea has built on her family’s proud 80-year legacy by introducing one of the state’s most popular farm tour programs.
Chelsea grew up surrounded by animals and always had an affinity for their care. After completing a Bachelor of Animal Science at the University of Adelaide and gaining experience across several other agricultural businesses, Chelsea returned home to Nangkita, east of Mount Compass, where she took on the role of herd manager.
“I’ve always been more on the animal side than Jake. I love working with the herd – watching them thrive, understanding their behaviour, and making sure they’re healthy and happy,” Chelsea said.
That commitment to animal welfare drove her enthusiasm for robotic milking, which the Connor family has adopted across their two farms, Nangkita and Minbee at Mount Jagged, where collectively they milk around 700 cows using 14 Lely milking robots.
“Robots are better for the cows and better for the people,” Chelsea said. “It’s a much higher skill-based job now – it’s interesting and far more flexible, especially for someone like me with young kids. We say it’s about working smarter, not harder.”
A high-tech approach
For Chelsea, the adoption of robotic systems is as much about food safety and milk quality as it is about efficiency and animal comfort. Every milking produces data, from fat and protein composition to somatic cell counts and milk conductivity, allowing early detection of any potential health or hygiene issues.
“We can jump onto problems before they blow out,” Chelsea said. “Traditionally, we might have seen a mastitis outbreak every summer. But we haven’t had one since putting in the robots because the technology gives us that instant feedback.”
Each robot performs quick rinses between cows and full washes twice a day, with extra cleaning cycles triggered automatically when a treated cow is milked. The system separates any milk containing antibiotics and prevents it from entering the main supply line.
“That kind of hygiene is all done without thinking,” Chelsea said. “It’s all automated, so there’s less risk of human error. It’s a real game-changer for food safety and the integrity of our milk.”
The results speak for themselves. After the switch to robotics, the family saw a 12 percent lift in production, driven not by extra litres but by increased fat and protein, the components processors value most. And while robotic dairies are often associated with efficiency gains, Chelsea said the true impact has been better cow health and milk quality.
“Our system allows cows to eat more naturally,” she explains. “Instead of two big meals a day, they can graze and feed as they choose. That’s better for their digestion and overall wellbeing, and it shows up in the quality of the milk.”
Curious visitors
When the first robot was installed in 2021, the family expected a few curious visitors. What they didn’t anticipate was the wave of interest that would follow.
“We knew we’d get some attention because it was the first robot in this region,” Chelsea said. “But the number of people who wanted to come and see it was unbelievable. It just snowballed.”
What began as casual visits from friends, local schools, and community groups has evolved into an informal but thriving educational tour program, welcoming universities, agricultural colleges, school groups, and industry organisations from across Australia and beyond. Chelsea estimates that 16 institutions visit annually, some returning twice a year.
“We’ve had the Nuffield Scholars from around the world. Farmer groups from New Zealand, Queensland and Columbia, Woolworths executives, RSPCA and PIRSA teams, even the Federal and State Agriculture Ministers,” she said. “It’s hard to say no when people are so interested.”
Nangkita Dairies showcases a future-focused model of Australian dairying. Each tour is tailored to the group’s learning goals, from animal science to robotics, environmental management, biosecurity or food safety.
“I love seeing people’s faces when they realise how technology-driven and innovative our farm is,” she said. “They are impressed, not just by the robots but also our cow activity collars, automated calf feeders, sexed semen, genetic testing and agricultural spray drone.
“A lot of people still imagine an old-fashioned setup. Then they see how much technology goes into producing safe, sustainable milk now. They’re always amazed.”
Teaching the next gen
Chelsea’s tours are a way of bridging the gap between farmers and consumers, and inspiring young people to consider careers in agriculture.
“Many students come thinking dairy farming is low-skill, low-tech and old-fashioned,” she said. “By the end, they’re talking about data science, engineering, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. It changes their perception completely.”
She often receives follow-up questions from students working on projects about technology in agriculture or sustainable food production. For Chelsea, those moments are particularly rewarding.
“I think that’s why I keep doing it,” she said. “People genuinely get so much out of it. Even if we don’t charge for tours, the value is huge – for them and for the industry.”
