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.

The transition from a traditional milking to automated milking is not always straightforward. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most important factors to address when planning the shift from a parlor to an automated milking system.

For Aaron Ninnemann, his family’s dairy farm is a classic example of a generationally run business whose family members have worked diligently for decades, making a name for themselves within the dairy industry. The Ninnemanns embraced automated milking in a tiestall barn retrofit to keep dairying alongside a growing cash crop operation.

Consider productivity, longevity and sustainability when considering a retrofit for automated milking.

Automated milking is part of the artificial intelligence revolution. There are, however, many myths surrounding the fundamentals of robotic dairies that may present unnecessary roadblocks to those considering the switch.

As dairy farms grow and evolve, so do their milking parlor and technology needs. While many farms start with basic systems, as herds grow and milk production increases, the time may come when upgrades and retrofits are necessary.

Are you considering expanding your milking parlor? If so, you probably know how daunting of a task it can be. However, with proper planning and the right resources, expanding your parlor can increase efficiency and productivity for your operation. 

The underlying factor when trying to make big decisions on whether to build a freestall barn, heifer shed, new parlor or that new robot barn is what it will be worth once it is erected and operational.