The benefits to automated milking systems are well documented when referenced to cow welfare, production potential and labor optimization. Although there are many facets to the optimization of these systems, one of the most undervalued is the parameters surrounding individual milking events and what draws the cows to the robot.

They say football is won and lost in the trenches with fundamentals like blocking and tackling. The fundamentals of automated milking systems are monitoring performance and completing maintenance.

For Canadian farmers, regulatory compliance will limit the use of tiestall barns beginning in April 2027. If labour efficiency is motivating you, automated milking might be part of your plan. One of the first questions to answer is whether to retrofit milking robots into your existing tiestall barn or start over with a new facility.

Labor shortages, rising input costs and growing expectations around animal care are forcing producers to think differently about how they manage their operations, not just for today but for the next five to 10 years and beyond.

Six automated milking dairies share their success stories here. Each of them have that adaptation mindset. All of them identify net profit as an important measure of success. Each of their stories highlights a specific strength that successful automated milking dairies have in common.

Two dairy producers shared insights into how a no-feed approach to milking with robots has shaped their management and long-term outlook on dairy farming during a Tanbark Talk Oct. 2 at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.

World Dairy Expo 2025 was buzzing with excitement as companies and organizations showcased their newest advancements for the dairy industry.

Within agriculture, the dairy industry has long been at the forefront of adopting agriculture technology. How can dairies ensure their agricultural technology (ag tech) acquisitions come with real payback on their investment?

A modern dairy building with automated systems and a viewing corridor will soon replace the aging dairy facilities built in 1972 at Waterman Dairy at Ohio State University in Columbus. Initial conversations about renovating the facilities began in 2019 while working on the master strategic plan for the college.