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I feel I’m living the dream when I help producers realize theirs. I have been fortunate to be involved in some of the world’s largest robotic dairies, most notably Fundo El Risquillo in Chile, which boasts 64 milking robots; as well as the installation of 24 robots in a U.S. barn.
Editor’s note: This article is the second in a series. Click here to read the first article.
Once the robots are fired up and the real journey has begun, it is time to focus on the right areas by planning for a bright future. Keep in mind that with a good plan in place nothing but good things will happen, and from now the sky is the limit.
Editor’s note: This is the first article in a two-part series about how to transition from conventional milking to robotic milking. Click here to read the second article.
Transitioning from conventional to robotic milking is a critical process that can be successfully executed as long as you plan your work and work your plan. It requires consistent work and methodic execution.
Robotic milking embraces the basics in herd management and milk production, but other essential components like lifestyle, daily routines and housing facilities can and do vary.
One hot topic concerning housing facilities in automatic milking system barns is bedding. Appropriate bedding systems should fulfill the requirements of lactating dairy cows milked robotically in a sustainable way, considering these four pillars:
There is no doubt that robotic milking is a suitable solution for large dairies, as there are several examples of successful dairies working under different conditions around the world.
With an automatic milking system (AMS), producers can work smarter rather than harder.
They might also enjoy a better quality of life with added flexibility in their schedule and activities – a clear advantage of robotic milking over conventional operations.
If you’re milking your herd with an automatic milking system (AMS), chances are you see your cows as robot customers. And as the saying goes: The customer is always right.
Robotic dairy owners and herd managers should be asking themselves: “Do I have the right plan in place with detailed strategies and standard operating procedures to motivate and help my customers perform their best – or in other words, achieve their genetic potential?”
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”
This is a very popular, well-known quote and the root of its meaning is critical to a robotic milking operation.
Just like snowflakes and udder conformations, no two farms are exactly the same. Robotic milking has certainly highlighted this fact as more North American dairy producers are preparing their farms for the latest in milking technology.
Before the robots are delivered to the farm, many planning decisions need to be in place. How should I design the layout of my barn? Which cow traffic system should I use? What about feeding strategies, bedding management and cow comfort?
