The U.S. dairy industry has arrived at its position of global strength by producing more milk with the same number of cows across a fraction of the farms. It did so not by choosing between scale and efficiency, but by pursuing both.

Longevity in your milking system is about more than just buying a quality product. How you manage your dairy along the way is going to determine how long your system lasts.

World Dairy Expo 2025 was buzzing with excitement as companies and organizations showcased their newest advancements for the dairy industry.

Investing in a rotary parlor is a big commitment – financially and logistically. With a plan that prioritizes people and cows, you can help ensure the rotary keeps turning for years to come with a well-executed startup.

Construction continues at the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Idaho CAFE), a University of Idaho-led facility in Rupert, Idaho, that will include the nation’s largest research dairy. Phase II is currently underway and includes construction of a commodity barn, a calving and research barn and a classroom building.

Few things reflect a well-run dairy like relaxed, happy cows chewing their cud in the milking parlor. Rotary parlors are designed to support that kind of consistency. They bring comfort and efficiency to the milking process through steady movement and streamlined routines.

In our operations, holding area management and the proper use of a crowd gate play a crucial role in promoting a cow’s comfort and ensuring an optimal milk harvest experience during her daily parlor visits. While these tasks may seem straightforward, they require much more than just moving cows and running them through a parlor.

The milking parlor is the heart of any dairy. But like any hardworking system, it needs the right care at the right time to deliver peak performance over the long haul. When you skip maintenance or use low-quality replacement parts, problems build up fast.

Milking parlors are the drumbeat of a dairy – fast-paced, dynamic environments where small changes make a big difference.

The project’s first phase, which includes major earthwork and construction of a milking barn with a modern rotary parlor, has been completed and the next phase of construction (maternity and commodity barns and classrooms) is underway. In early May, U of I led a tour of lawmakers, local officials and members of the state’s Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council to showcase the return on the considerable investment they’ve made in CAFE.