Webinar Robotics! Three large US dairy producers share their experiences
Three dairy producers and experts shared their own experiences, learning curves, impact and paybacks from milking robots or automatic feed pushers, two types of technology that are booming in the US right now.
5 key takeaways from the webinar
Robotic milking (automated milking system (AMS)) can reduce labor significantly. Jones Farms reduced its staff by 5! And labor is expensive in regions such as California
You have another tool to feed cows more individually when supplying feed at the AMS
Robotic milking takes less time than conventional milking, so cows can spend more time eating and ruminating, benefitting milk production
Be realistic. Changing to automatic milking takes time and a few hurdles need to be taken before it all runs smoothly. Ask lots of questions!
Robotic feed pushers ensure to have feed in front of the cows at all times, helping to increase feed intake levels and production
WEBCAST & PODCAST
Mason Dixon Farms: pioneer in the US
The first commercial robotic milking machines were introduced in Europe in the 1990s. The United States followed thereafter, and dairy producer Mr. Doyle Waybright, owner of Mason Dixon Farms in Pennsylvania is one of the earliest adopters of milking robots and made the leap almost 20 years ago. “In the late 90s, my two brothers visited Germany as part of a trip organized by a tractor company. In their spare time, they visited some dairies and learned about a new way of milking by using robotics. It spurred their interest big time, and when back in the US we quickly discussed how we could get started with automated milking on our farm”, Waybright explained in the webinar.
After years of experience, he is still very happy with his choice and currently has 20 automated milking systems running on his farm, monitored by people on the farm that learned how to deal with the AMS. Waybright: “Robotic milking allows us to use our skilled labor force to do more high-level tasks. It means a step up in their careers and it will also benefit our farm. But starting with AMS was both a learning process for us as well as for our farm consultants. How to prevent sucking in the bedding material during milking for example? Remember we were the first in the US. We simply had no example of applying AMS on a large-scale farm that we could learn from”.
Using technology that supplement each other
Aaron Wickstrom, owner of the 2,500-dairy Wickstrom Dairies in California explained during the webinar how he benefits from robotic (automated) feed pushers. “Especially during the hot season, we see true benefits of having these “feed assistants” in the barn. When temperatures reach 105-106 ℉, cows don’t get up that often to eat and they eat less overall. The feed pushers make sure the feed is pushed towards the cows and is evenly distributed. We really noticed that the cows seem to eat more when the feed is more in front of them. This way, we can reduce production losses as a result of heat stress”. Wickstrom sees benefits in combining different technologies on the farm that can supplement each other. We also use ALUS Nutrition for example, to monitor the feed bunks and to help us inform when cows are running out of feed or when the feed is not at the right spot. We can then for example decide to run the feed pusher more often”, Wickstrom explained in the webinar.
Saving 4-5 staff members
David Jones worked on his family dairy farm (Jones Farms) in California before he joined DeLaval North America as key account manager and in charge of installing new milking robots at dairies. “At the family farm we started off with an AMS in 2018, next to our conventional parallel milking parlor. Initially it took a little bit more work to run these two systems at the same time, but now we stand to four to five less staff members on the farm compared to before we started with AMS. For our farm size that has been huge and game changing, considering that an employee can cost up to US$70-80k per year, including all the insurances etc.”
Since the first AMS were installed, some new ones have been added (DeLaval VMS™ V300), equipped to milk 68 cows per robot. “These are free flow robots, meaning that the cows can enter the robots at all times. You can also choose for pre-selection (guided flow), which means that you guide the cows that need to be milked, to prevent that cows hang out at the AMS and don’t go in. They eat up box time, valuable time where we could be harvesting milk instead. Next to labor savings, we have seen an increase by 12-15 pounds in milk production and cows have more time for eating and ruminating per day (3 hours per cow per day!) instead of waiting to be milked”, Jones explained the viewers of the webinar.
While working at DeLaval North America, Jones has seen a rapid adoption of AMS in the US. “It is very important to let farmers know that AMS can make their life easier, but that it also comes with challenges. It is important that dairy farmers have a clear picture of what it entails to start with robotic milking. Does the AMS need to be retro-fitted in existing barns, are you planning to build a new barn? And can AMS work for all farm sizes? At DeLaval we always look at this closely with the farmer”. Jones is excited to work in the dairy technology space. “Innovation continues and this will make dairy farms more efficient and profitable and will attract more skilled people. But technology is always how to make it pay and be easy to use by both farmers and operators and not to add more tasks for the farmer”.