We can categorize automated milking system data into tools for detecting new infections in individual cows and tools for monitoring the herd level of existing infection. The tools will be more valuable if we use them correctly.

Il y a plusieurs bonnes raisons d’envisager de passer à la stabulation libre. Peut-être êtes-vous motivé par l’expansion du troupeau, l’augmentation de la production, la conformité réglementaire, le vieillissement des installations ou la productivité de la main-d’œuvre.

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.

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.

Est-ce que votre silo à moulée est un endroit que vous évitez jusqu'à ce que les vaches n'aient plus rien à manger au robot? Voici quelques conseils pour vous aider à surveiller et gérer les aliments dans le silo pour éviter que les vaches manquent de moulée ou cessent de se rendre au robot.

En salle de traite, la surveillance des vaches, de l’équipement et, dans une certaine mesure, de l’environnement, fait partie intégrante de la routine de traite. Elle est effectuée par les employés de la salle de traite lorsqu’ils préparent les trayeuses et les positionnent sur les trayons desquels ont été tirés et jetés les premiers jets. En traite automatisée, il est important de mettre en place des routines quotidiennes pour surveiller les points de contrôle de la qualité du lait par d’autres moyens.

Like the speedometer, the dry-off list may include cows that are milking more than expected, and it might be necessary to pump the brakes hard to dry them off successfully. Or, like the blind spot, life happens, holidays and time off intervene, and suddenly, there are more cows on the dry-off list than expected. Automated milking systems and milking system software have some options for managing cows going into the dry period.

I asked ChatGPT whether farmers should upgrade their automated milking systems. The artificial intelligence (AI) answer was, “If the current system is outdated and requires frequent repairs; if newer technology offers clear efficiency, milk yield or labor savings; if financing options make the investment viable.” Those are good answers. I talked to several real farmers and got better answers.

There is a trend toward increased stocking density in automated milking barns. Quite a few farmers have made it work and made it look easy. It has worked for them because they have the fundamentals right.