The transition from parlor milking to robotic milking should be viewed as a tool to help move your dairy from good to great.

Launching a robotic milking operation is much more than simply attaching the cows to the milking unit. It starts as soon as you mention the word “robotic.” Here are the necessary steps to follow as you transition into a robotic milking system.

Editor’s note: This article is the second in a four-part series about how an Oregon dairy farmer is making robots work on a grazing system. Read the three other articles Keeping milk-quality forage coming throughout your harvest season , Free-flow grazing with milking robots promotes animal wellness and How we milk 3 times a day with robots for success

Managing milk quality with robots is a lot like taking care of your vehicle. If your check engine light comes on and you ignore it, the problem won’t fix itself, and it may become a bigger issue over time.

More than 100 years ago, Minglewood Inc. began as a dairy operation with only six cows, a small tiestall barn and a lot of hope. Their current operation is a far cry from their humble beginning in 1894. Today, owners Kevin and Roxann Solum and their family milk 1,200 Holstein cows, manage eight DeLaval robotic milking systems and farm 2,800 acres of crops near Deer Park, Wisconsin.