Tips for successful robotic switch (Nov/Dec 25)

What steps should producers take before making the change to robotic milking? We highlight some points to consider for a smooth transition

TEXT MELISSA WOOD

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 setup it’s essential that producers first clearly define objectives 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 finetune and maximise production potential,” he adds.Mr Mullery and his team have been working with robotic herds for more than 10 years and offer independent advice and feasibility studies to evaluate whether robotic milking suits a particular herd and business.

When considering automation, Mr Mullery recommends assessing viability by looking at three key areas: infrastructure, cows and people.

“Whether planning to house robots in a retro fitted or greenfield site, it’s often easy to figure out the optimum position of the robots. But key to successful design is focusing on optimal cow management, which will be bespoke to the unit,” he says.

Easy access

Some herds will need easy access to handle cows at all ‘touch points’, others prefer the idea of minimum separation and interaction and instead rely more on systems such as locking yokes.

“Seek industry expertise 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, and don’t rely entirely on others’ opinions because, ultimately, it still comes down to individual herds, systems and people,” says Mr Mullery.

Beyond the shed and cow-handling facilities, producers should also 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,” adds Mr Mullery. “So assess the current state of digital dermatitis and overall foot health.”

“Digital dermatitis control is vital and the start point is to review current prevalence and the herd’s foot bathing strategy. Lameness will undermine robot efficiency, so it needs to be tackled. But if transition, mobility and nutrition are all optimised then robot visit will be consistent and milking frequency will be higher. Both lead to improved milk yields.”

Automated system: robots can offer greater herd management flexibility

Smooth transition

Cows milked conventionally typically peak at between 60 and 80 days into their lactation. But robotically-milked cows reach peak yield much earlier at between 35 and 40 days. This underlines the importance of transition-cow management.

“The first three weeks post-calving can be ‘make or break’ in terms of a successful lactation,” says Mr Mullery. “A smooth transition period is essential, particularly with robotic milking, because the great milking frequency will quickly expose poor nutrition management or metabolic health.

"If producers are looking to switch to a concentrate specifically formulated for robotic milking, they should consider feeding this in the conventional parlour prior to the move.

“The fewer changes there are both during the transition-cow period and the switch to robotic milking, the smoother the whole process will be,” he adds.

Feeding levels in the robots will depend on the chosen strategy, and this should be planned in advance to minimise later adjustments.

“Keep in mind that the base diet will most 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 the herd’s nutrition strategy, look beyond just the targeted diet. Robot visit behaviour and lactation persistency are key factors that are often overlooked.”

Olivia Edgerton recently joined the company 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 knows that people are also key to success.

“Understanding how the robots will help fulfil business objectives is important, but producers also need to think about the skillset within their team,” she says. “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 wider than just the on-farm team,” she adds. “Include the nutritionist, vet, and financial adviser, and make sure the right people are in place to ensure the best return on investment.”

Leveraging data

They also need to be skilled at leveraging data from the robots. “When choosing a robot, consider whether the software aligns with the business’ goals. It should be user-friendly and support 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 milk,” explains Mr Mullery. “Robotic systems reward excellent management, but they don’t replace it.”

He says producers should calculate the current cost of production (COP) and the projected COP under a robotic system. “From that, estimate the performance required to break even and then to be in profit.”

“For many conventionally milked herds, the target yield for a healthy return on investment sits between 35 and 40 litres per cow per day. That’s a demanding level that requires consistent management, skill, and attention to detail.

“This is not to say that a lower input lower output system can’t be successful. But  the fact remains that an increase in production is almost always needed to cover the rise in fixed costs.”

Driving continual improvements will help maintain profitability and Mr Mullery adds 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,” he says. “But managing these four areas well helps prevent most problems.”