Advanced Robot’s experience means they are always challenging me to get the best out of the cows, they maintain the herd’s health status whilst also improving performance.
Tips for a successful robotic switch
What steps should producers take before making the change to robotic milking? We highlight some key herd-management points to consider for a smooth transition to automated systems. First published in Cow Management.
There's more to consider than potential labour savings and cow health and productivity benefits when making the switch from conventional to robotic milking.
Before investing in an automatic set-up it’s essential that producers first clearly define objectices and set goals, according to Advanced Ruminant Nutrition’s Eoghan Mullery, who adds that robotic milking is not a shortcut to free time. "But it will give producers more flexibility when managing their working day, as well as providing more data to help fine tune and maximise production potential," he adds.
Mr Mullery and his team have been working with robotic herds for more than ten years and offer independent advice and feasibility studies to evaluate whether robotic milking suits a particular business.
When considering automation, Mr Mullery recommends assessing viability around three major factors – infrastructure, cows and people.
Whether you plan to house the robots in a retro fit or greenfield site, it’s often easy to figure out the optimum position of the robots. However, the key to a successful design is one which allows for optimal cow management, bespoke to the unit.
Easy access
Some herds will want easy access to handle cows at all ‘touch points’, other herds prefer the idea of minimum separation and interaction and instead rely more on systems such as locking yokes. “Seek industry experience and talk to people who have direct involvement in all the different types of robots. Visit as many robotic units as you can to gain some insight. However, don’t rely entirely on others’ opinions as ultimately it still comes down to individual herds, systems and people,” says Mr Mullery.
Beyond the shed and cow handling facility, producers should focus on strategies that facilitate a smoother transition onto robots. While some short-term solutions may help, it is crucial to approach these changes with a long-term perspective.
When breeding replacements to produce a herd that suits robotic milking, selecting sires for ideal teat placement is important. Herd temperament also plays a role, with more placid cows transitioning to robotic milking more easily.
“Maintaining good mobility is non-negotiable. Assess the current state of digital dermatitis (DD) and overall foot health. DD control is a major factor, review your prevalence rates and current foot bathing strategy. Consider what the current foot bathing strategy is and what will the outcome be if footbaths temporarily stop.” Mr Mullery and his team have worked with industry leaders such as Nick Bell to create a better understanding of the importance of mobility and robots. DD control is a good example of this and with subtle changes to protocols producers can reap big benefits.
“Lameness will undermine robot efficiency,” he notes. “If transition, mobility and nutrition are all right you’ll get consistent robot visits and higher milking frequency - leading to greater yield.”
Smooth Transition
Cows milked conventionally typically peak at 60 - 80 days in milk, while robotic herds reach their peak much earlier at around 35 - 40 days. That makes the transition period critical.
“Those first three weeks post-calving can make or break success,” stresses Mr Mullery. “Cows must enter lactation following a smooth transition period or robots will quickly expose weak nutrition management or poor metabolic health.”
“If you’re currently parlour feeding, consider transitioning to the same compound feed (if it’s changing) before moving onto the robots. The fewer changes that occur during the transition period and in the switch to robotic milking, the smoother the process will be. Feeding levels in the robots will depend on your chosen strategy, so it’s important to plan this in advance to minimise adjustments later. Keep in mind that your base diet will likely need to be reduced to encourage cows to visit the robots. Protein and other nutrient levels can then be fine-tuned to prevent any issues beyond the physical stress of adapting to the new system.’
“When developing your nutrition strategy, it’s important to look beyond just the targeted diet. Robot visit behaviour and, critically, lactation persistency are key factors that are often overlooked.”
Olivia Edgerton recently joined Advanced Ruminant Nutrition from a major robotic manufacturing company to further widen its expertise on robot technology. She has worked with all types and size of dairy systems transitioning to robots, and know that people are also key to success.
Understanding how the robots will help fulfil business objectives is important but what Miss Edgerton emphasises is that producers also need to think about the skillset within their team. "While robots can provide greater flexibility, it’s important to determine how to allocate your team to other areas, focusing on more skilled tasks such as cow welfare or mobility.”
“Look more widely that just the on-farm team,” she adds. “Include the nutritionist, vet, and financial advisor, do you have the right people in place to ensure the best return on your investment?”
Leveraging data
They also need to be skilled at leveraging the data from the robots. “When choosing a robot, consider whether the software aligns with your business goals, is user-friendly, and effectively supports day-to-day management.”
Looking ahead to installation, the key focus should be on achieving a strong return on investment. Success ultimately depends on setting and meeting clear performance and feed efficiency targets.
“Costs per litre may be higher, but margin over purchased feed should improve because cows are producing more,” explains Mr Mullery. “Robotic systems reward excellent management, but they don’t replace it.”
“We calculate the current cost of production (COP) and the projected COP under a robotic system,” explains Mr Mullery. “From that, we can estimate the performance required to break even and then profit.”
“For many conventionally milked farms, the target yield for a healthy ROI sits between 35 and 40 litres per cow per day, a demanding level that requires consistent management, skill, and attention to detail. This is not to say a lower input lower output system can’t be successful; however, the key factor remains that an increase in production is almost always needed to cover the increased fixed costs.”
Driving continual improvements will help maintain profitability and Mr Mullery suggests that focusing on four core areas - transition management, cow mobility and body condition, robot-visit behaviour and lactation persistency - is vital.
“Every robotic herd faces new challenges each year,” says Mullery. “But managing these four areas well helps prevent most problems.”
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