Milking Systems

The dual path of scale and efficiency

ppmadero@maderoequipos.com — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

The keys to longevity in milk systems: Maintenance, planning and leadership

kfiene@boumatic.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Equipment, chemistry and people: A three-tier checklist for modern parlors

shaun@futurecow.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Milking parlors perform at the intersection of three forces: equipment performance, chemical effectiveness and human compliance. Each one can elevate milk quality or quietly sabotage it.

Keep it flowing: How smart maintenance extends the life of your parlor

kcarlson@boumatic.com — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Milk in motion: Mastering the tempo of parlor performance

craig.walter@vas.com — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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

How CO2 chiller systems are changing the future of dairy refrigeration

jimvgjr@prorefrigeration.com — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dairies have long been navigating complex challenges that make it difficult to lean into forward-looking innovations. But certain cutting-edge solutions have the ability to address numerous priority areas all at once and simultaneously yield a substantial return on investment. Chief among these are milk chilling systems that replace synthetic chemical-based refrigerants with naturally occurring, readily available carbon dioxide (CO₂) or R744, its refrigerant-grade version.

Evaluating KPIs for automated milking systems

nicky.tsai@delaval.com — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy farming, like any other industry, operates with clear goals and strategic plans. In automated dairy systems, a vast array of data is collected from a variety of performance indicators.

How to elevate parlor management with milk monitoring technology

curtis.horsens@merck.com — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

When you consider that milk is a dairy’s top revenue source, milking technicians have a huge impact on the operation’s profitability. If parlor performance lags or procedures drift, the entire enterprise may be at risk.

Balancing automation technology and employee management

chris.singleton@waikatomilking.com — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Milking automation represents not only a technological advancement but a fundamental shift in dairy farm management. While automation simplifies processes, the human touch remains indispensable. Successfully managing employees requires finding the right balance between leveraging the power of technology and nurturing a supportive, engaged work environment.

Four factors to maximize time, resources in the parlor

akinney@boumatic.com — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Efficiency is the key to success in the dairy industry. There are never enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do, so maximizing those hours, minutes and even seconds is the hallmark of a good operation.

Minimize downtime with efficient maintenance

kcarlson@boumatic.com — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It might seem counterintuitive to work on something that isn’t broken, but a small amount of effort can prevent major disruptions down the line. By dedicating a small amount of time to maintenance tasks now, you can avoid costly downtimes and ensure your dairy operation runs smoothly and efficiently.

Maintaining optimum milk production and udder health

chris.singleton@waikatomilking.com — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Optimum milk production is crucial for dairy farmers, as it directly impacts their profitability. However, while higher milk yields increase revenue, it is important that it is achieved without compromising the health and well-being of the cows.

Successfully transition into milking automation

dmeihak@lely.com — Mon, 27 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Nearly 150 years ago, in 1879, New Jersey dairy farmer Anna Baldwin invented the first milking machine. Today, dairy producers have had access to safe, efficient automated dairy systems for 30 years, and the pace of advancement and innovation is increasing rapidly.

Optimize efficiency and animal health at the milking point with precision technology

steve.jones@delaval.com — Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Are you utilizing and optimizing all you have already paid for? Is there untapped potential and ways your existing milking equipment can help you out? Many milk point manufacturers have a stimulation function on their equipment.

[Podcast] Robots and rotaries with Torie Little and Stephanie Schroeder

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Robots or a rotary parlor? As this question continues to be debated nationwide, Progressive Dairy Podcast host Matti McBride sits down with Torie Little of TDSG and Stephanie Schroeder of Boumatic to identify key points that dairy producers need to understand when investing in an automated milking system. Listen to learn about attributes of successful transitions, questions asked during the process and how certain management styles fit different technologies.

Why continuous learning for farm employees is key

brittany.chase@delaval.com — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

While it is possible to have SOPs for many important tasks on a dairy farm, there are few more important than milking parlor procedures.

Building the right foundation for your rotary milking system

jane.burton@waikatomilking.com — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 11:52:29 -0500

The platform is the starting point for constructing a robust, efficient and scalable rotary milking system that can solve your farm’s unique challenges and withstand the rigors of daily farm life.

The top five reasons for investing in automation

warwick@onfarmsolutions.com — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The more we understand automation, the better equipped we are to make it work for us. Let's explore the top five reasons for automating the milking routine on a dairy.

Solving challenges with parlor data

matthew.heisner@nedap.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Whether you are looking to invest in milk meters for the first time or upgrading your current system, it is important to consider what you are trying to accomplish with parlor data.

Parlor automation: The name of the efficient milking game

anthony.loken@gea.com — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Is labor a challenge? Could you be more consistent with your milking process or milk cows more efficiently?

Train employees to ensure milking protocols meet industry standards

nicole.neeser@state.mn.us — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 07:21:37 -0400

As names and faces change through retirements and new hirings, the need for knowledge and training are important for every sector of the dairy industry. This includes education of on-farm employees on the key practices and steps to follow to ensure that the milk leaving the farm is of the highest quality.

Automation holds the key for a better milking environment

joel.prince@waikatomilking.com — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The next generation of dairy farmers are wanting to operate more efficiently in less time and are being forced to do this with even less and less of an available labor force each year.

2023’s hottest new technologies earn Nexus Innovation Awards

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Progressive Dairy hosted these technologies along with PDPW on the Nexus Innovation stage – a live-format presentation that is a cross between a TED Talk and a Shark Tank pitch.

Using milking duration and milking speed to make and evaluate management decisions

dtnolan@illinois.edu — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 08:46:30 -0400

When is the last time you evaluated milking settings in your parlor? Read our latest article to learn more.

Vacuum testing at milking provides results to avoid milking machine-induced mastitis

rdw32@cornell.edu — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 09:18:00 -0400

Evaluating claw vacuum during peak milk flow and graphing pulsators are two common tests that are often completed at milking time.

Use parlor data to tap into the pulse of your herd

matthew.heisner@nedap.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 17:19:30 -0500

How do you ensure your barns are filled with profitable cows and that the overall trajectory for your herd is headed in the right direction? By using accurate, actionable parlor performance data, of course.

Technologies at work improve dairy’s environmental impact

jenn@agproud.com — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 13:40:42 -0500

A collaborative study between the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) revealed significant environmental benefits of modern dairy, hay and forage production technologies in North America over the last 15 years.

Accurately graph pulsators

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 13:04:11 -0400

Udder health is impacted by multiple factors but can be grouped into three general categories: milkers, cows and equipment. Of these three, the equipment is by far the easiest to control.

Equipment Hub: Troubleshooting tips for servicing your robotic milking system

shawn.vannote@gea.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 14:44:20 -0400

What happens when your internet isn’t working? You’re probably not going to call your internet provider immediately. Instead, after some cursing and dusting off the barn grime, you might check your router, disconnect and reconnect your modem, check if there’s an outage or restart your device.

Out with the old, in with the new milking equipment

matthew.roberts@gea.com — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 19:09:32 -0400

The wish list of milking equipment upgrades can pile up: the latest technology, more data, increased automation – the list goes on.