In Wisconsin, dairy farmers harvested 31.7 billion pounds of milk last year — a 16-year streak of annual production increase. The state’s average dairy herd size has more than doubled in the past 15 years making operational efficiency a critical component of any dairy farm looking to be sustainable for many years to come.
Investing in new milking technology is one way to enhance efficiency on your farm. At the same time, producers are concerned about changes in today’s labor market, so I am often asked, “Should we build a rotary or install robots on our dairy?”
It seems like a simple question, as they want to adopt the best new technology for their herd. The answer, however, is anything but simple. Each dairy is different, making it important to understand why they are asking this question in the first place. When I meet with owners and herd managers interested in new technology we review a series of fact-finding questions to help them envision their future in dairy farming.
People
When looking at the differences in rotaries and robots, farmers must have competent employees who are well trained on the ins and outs of the systems. Setting clear expectations for your labor force will also help you transition and be successful once the project is complete. They should also answer the following:
- Who is going to work with the herd in this new automation system? Do I need to hire a higher-level person who can work with automation?
- Will my herd be growing or staying the same size?
- Can I remove some labor or change their roles?
Cows and the barn environment
Touring other facilities with robots or rotaries will help you understand how these milking systems work, and how they could fit within your operation. There are options, whether it is building on a new site or retrofitting your current facility. Taking a deep dive into where you are putting your new milking system should be a well-thought-out process. It will involve multiple parties and perspectives, from people on your farm to your architect, builder, equipment dealership, and other trusted people in your dairy’s leadership structure.
When considering a design, it is imperative to think of it from multiple perspectives:
- How will this work for employees operating this equipment?
- How will it work for my cows to maximize their comfort and production?
- Are there changes necessary in stalling, ventilation, feeding, etc?
- Will the design enable the milking equipment to operate at its fullest?
Data
Both robots and rotaries collect a lot of data about the cow and her production, and how that relates to her health and wellbeing. Learning from and understanding this data is an important task to master. It’s important to ask:
- Do I want to continue managing my data by cow groups, pens or herds? Will I be prepared to analyze data also by individual cows and robots?
At first, the amount of data can be overwhelming. Software programs and reports tailored to your needs can help you understand more about your cows. You may be concerned about the amount of times fresh cows are coming to the robots or why visits went down when you switched to a new pellet. It is important to work with your herd management advisers who can help you digest and understand all of this information.
Dairy producers have optimized both rotary and robotic milking systems. The management of each scenario is very different, yet farmers have proven that it is possible to find success with either system.
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