Robotic milking of dairy cows is the best way to milk cows – period. I did not say the only way. Just like total mixed rations (TMRs), or partial mixed rations (PMRs) in the case of robotic milking, is the best way to feed dairy cattle; in most cases, it is the best and most efficient. Some skeptics will say, “Yes, but you are never finished milking.” To that, I echo what one of our customers shared with me, “Yes, but I never have to start milking either.”
There are a few reasons why I feel robotics is simply the best way to milk cows. First, more and more dairy herds average more than 40 litres of milk per cow per day. These cows need to be milked more than twice a day. Some dairies are still able to find the labour to milk three times a day, but it won’t last forever. Second, the consistency of the milking routine can’t be beat. Robots milk cows’ individual quarters, meaning it removes teat cups as the quarter finishes milking. There is no undermilking or overmilking that can occur when a whole cluster is removed at once. Quarter milking results in healthier teats. Third, you receive more data on individual cows for herd management.
I am not saying everyone should go out and buy a robotic milking system, but it should be seriously considered when you are in the position to upgrade your milking system.
Advice for producers considering robotic milking
The first thing I would look at when touring farms with a potential dealer is an alarm list. How often is the farmer being called in a 24-hour period? When was the last time the farmer was called out of bed and the time before that? Why? This is a big deal in considering robots. It makes a big difference if you are called out once a week or once a month, especially in planting and harvesting time.
Another thing customers often incorrectly assume is that yearly maintenance costs on the different robot models are similar. Not at all. It is my understanding that maintenance and upkeep costs annually can vary from $12,000 to $30,000. To me, that is a big deal. Skeptics will accuse a salesperson of adjusting the numbers in their favour, but you can always take the numbers you are given to a farm that works with that same model of robot and see if it makes sense from that customer’s perspective.
You also need to keep in mind, every individual case is different. Your reality may differ slightly from others. In my experience, one farmer to another has different skill levels, and some do more service work, which makes a difference.
Robotic milking systems are a luxury, and you will pay for that as well. It takes a higher calibre of technician, which means service calls will cost more. Robotic technicians are on call 24 hours a day, which will affect rates as well.
These are two of the first things you should look at when considering a brand of robot. I would look at these things even before looking at the facilities.
Ways to improve the service experience
When it comes to service, there are some things that need to be said as well. How come on so many farms it is hard to find a proper spot to wash your hands with decent hand soap? One day, I walked through a robot room and my hat and head were covered with cobwebs. I walked away thinking the only thing this farmer ever did in the robot room was change their milk filter – at least I hope they did. Talking about milk filters, there are a few dairy farmers who seem to make milk filters last about a month. This isn’t an area where you should be cutting costs. If this is what it takes, you better get out of business.
There are also a number of farms where you can’t find a single scrub brush. News flash: Robots don’t clean themselves. If the technician looks like he or she worked on the manure pump after a robot service, you probably have a cleanliness problem.
A couple more pieces of advice here. A snowstorm is not the time to start working on or pressure washing the robot. Also, run any calibrations first thing in the morning because that is usually when you spot problems. Your dealer can run more efficiently if those service calls arrive in a timely manner.
When you make service calls late into the night, you have a duty to make sure the technician gets to the farm safely. There were several times I arrived at the farm at 1 or 2 a.m. and there was not a sign of life. I am not saying you need to be right there when the technician arrives, but you do need to be sure the technician arrived safely, especially in the winter. If you don’t, you may wake up some morning and realize the technician never made it. If that ever happens, technicians will not be allowed to go on service calls by themselves at night, and you will pay for two technicians for every call. In our cold climate, you need to make sure the sidewalls and curtains are all closed. The milkline from the robot is small and, in most cases, runs through the barn. I have seen more than once when a customer didn’t answer the phone at night, and it took the better part of a day to thaw the milklines.
If you want good service, make sure your farm is a place where service technicians love to go. Don’t carry on about how expensive the bill is or complain non-stop about anything and everything. Never complain about their colleagues to them; only raise those complaints with management. It also isn’t very encouraging if you stand there asking every couple of minutes, “Do you know what’s wrong yet?” Another very annoying thing we experienced from a customer is them constantly making the comment, “It isn’t rocket science.” Rude comments are not helpful. If you can’t control yourself, just stay away. If you call technicians out at an odd hour and they’ve been there for a few hours, the least you can do is provide something to eat or drink. After a long day, most lunches are long gone, and a hungry technician can be a cranky technician.
Does the robot room have a proper spot for the technician to set down a laptop, tools, etc.? How many air compressors are your robots running on? If you are running four robots on one air compressor, do you have a backup plan for when the air compressor goes down? It would be good if your main air compressor went down on a Sunday afternoon to have a way to keep going until Monday morning. Most technicians don’t travel with an air compressor and will need to travel to the shop to get an air compressor before coming to your farm, all while you have a number of robots down. Vacuum pumps might be another thing to think about.
There are certain parts most farmers can stock to avoid service calls as well. A spare pulsator or an assortment of different air fittings can get robots back up and running faster than waiting for someone to run and get a part.
There’s a need for more help at startup
One area that is underestimated on most dairy farms is the startup of the new robot. There’s seldom enough help. For the first round, there should be two people per robot to push cows. If there’s multiple robots, one person per robot will do for the second round. People tend to forget that for the first week, depending on the size of the herd, someone needs to be in the barn around the clock. If there’s fewer than 40 cows per robot, then it should be possible to take breaks from the barn.
In the 13 years I worked as a milking robot technician, I have only seen three or four startups with enough help. Most farmers underestimate what it will take for the first week. No one person can do this by him or herself.
The first week really will spell success for you and the robot system, if done properly. Who you get to help for the first couple of rounds makes all the difference. You do not want it to be a rodeo. Some of the more difficult transitions are from tiestalls. To alleviate the struggle, try housing dry cows and heifers in a freestall facility if planning begins a few years in advance.
You also need to be prepared to have someone take calls from time to time. There will be times after a hectic season that you will need to get away with your significant other. Even though you have great success and not too many calls, the minute you drive out of the driveway the robot will call, or worse when you are an hour from home. Some farmers work with neighbours and share on call with three or four. Others rely on local high school students. Whatever it takes, you need a plan.
Milking robots already do an amazing job, and it will only get better. Hopefully you can develop great relations with your robotic technicians and dealers for added success in the years to come.
