How Milking Robots Revitalize Dairy Production

The dairy industry has come to see the host of benefits of automatic milking systems in the form of milking robots. These robots make use of a combined system of both machine and manual operations to automate the milking process and help manage dairy cows. In some cases, the process can be fully automated to operate without human labor. Robotic milking is quickly being adopted by many dairy farmers, given its labor efficiency and cost savings vs. conventional milking systems. Here are some of the key benefits of using milking robots on your dairy farm.

Optimal Labor Allocation

Automating the milking process allows businesses to utilize vital labor resources for other necessary productive tasks. This automation also reduces the labor strain on individuals on a farm, allowing them to deliver optimal and timely results in other areas. Working in tandem, the human and machine labor force can achieve peak levels of efficiency in production per cow, making your investments feasible. Incorporating milking robots ensures a stress-free labor force while reducing unnecessary labor expenditure.

Quality Production

Milk quality is a vital consideration for many farmers, especially when it comes to maintaining hygiene and nutrition. Farmers strive to ensure peak levels of milk quality so that their product remains the top consideration for the market. Automation eliminates the risk of contamination by guaranteeing near-perfect levels of hygiene. When the machinery is kept sanitary, it is able to limit the amount of contamination that milk is exposed to during milking, processing, and storage.

Large-Scale Production

Dairy producers aim to increase their milk productivity within a specific period of time while keeping the cost of production low. Being able to produce milk on a large scale basis allows you to meet the ever-growing demand for milk. While a human labor force is quite capable, they may not be able to match output facilitated by milking robots. For one thing, these machines are not subject to fatigue, and a double-box robot even has the ability to milk two cows at the same time. Robotic milking systems such as these offer a marked increase in milk production within the same time frame it would take to milk one cow. With automatic milking systems, by increasing milking frequency from two to 2.5 or even 3 times per day, this can mean a milk yield of three to five pounds of milk per cow daily.

Superior Animal Welfare

Milking cows are known to offer the best production levels when their welfare is ensured and stress levels are kept to a minimum. Animals on farms with robots have demonstrated proper treatment owing to the greater freedom and flexibility they experience. Robotic milking negates discomfort and stress, allowing cows to be more relaxed and produce greater qualities of quality milk.