Editor’s note: This article is based on a presentation by Gerhard Ritzema on June 24, 2015. Since that time, the Ritzemas decided to return to a milking parlor in place of their automatic milking system. An inline milk analysis tool is now setting the daily management routine at Ritzema Dairy Ltd. The dairy has more than a year under its belt using a real-time technology that determines each individual cow’s risk for estrus, ketosis, mastitis and more – all from a milk sample.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2016. Current price estimates vary based on demand and inflation. Thinking about building a new calf barn this year? Or perhaps a robotic milking system?