“Change is easy. Transition is hard. Are you open to surrounding yourself with people who have the best knowledge and listening to them?” Nancy Charlton of DeLaval asked listeners of the “Capitalizing on robotics to enhance animal health and reproduction” panel at the 2023 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council annual meeting.

Failure to permit cows to rest when they want to, for as long as they need to, has a negative impact on their ability to produce milk, become pregnant, stay healthy and remain in the herd.

Change isn’t easy. Making the decision to change can be even harder. As we look toward the future, change is a must to set the farm up for continued success and provide an opportunity for our boys to farm should they desire to do so.

Life after high school looks different for everyone, as each person’s path is unique. However, colleges including Northcentral Technical College are dedicated to offering experiences and hands-on opportunities that can serve as valuable foundations for future careers. 

Robotic dairy systems have been available to the public for nearly three decades. In that time, numerous manufacturers have entered the industry, providing consumers with a variety of robotic solutions for milking, feeding and even manure management.

Reproduction management plays a critical role in any dairy. The ability to monitor, detect and act quickly when heat is detected significantly impacts herd performance. 

Progressive Dairy caught up with dairy producers who installed varying automated milking equipment on their farms in the second half of the 2010 era.

The more we understand automation, the better equipped we are to make it work for us. Let's explore the top five reasons for automating the milking routine on a dairy.

The key to being the best manager is making the most of your time and the robot’s time. Here is how to be an effective herd manager with robots.

The robotic aspect of milking a grazing herd is much the same as in a traditional one, but the primary difference is sending cows out to pasture and ensuring they regularly return to the robot for milking. Optimizing this condition is key.