Robotic milking systems are not for every operation. As we’ve written about previously, some of the original assumptions the industry had about the types of labor savings dairy robots would bring haven’t panned out. And for many operators, the investment is simply too steep.

A couple of years ago, we had certain assumptions about the cost savings robotic milking systems would yield, and where the bulk of those savings would come from. We expected the main advantages would come from reduced labor costs and increased milk production. But has that turned out to be the case? What’s changed in the last two years?