This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and readability.

Host: Dr. Glenda Pereira

[00:00:07] Introduction

Welcome to the Maine Farmcast. I’m your host, Dr. Glenda Pereira, an assistant professor with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the School of Food and Agriculture. For today’s episode, it’s just me, folks. I’m doing a solo episode about a topic that I’ve researched quite a bit recently as I prepare for upcoming field days.

[00:00:33] Upcoming Robots in Action Field Day Event

We’re talking about robots today, and we’re going to go into more depth about manure robots. You can see both milking robots and manure robots in action later this month. It’s June Dairy Month, so we’re celebrating all month long. To celebrate together, we’ll gather on Tuesday, June 30. The program starts at 10 a.m., and we’ll see manure and milking robots in action. I’ll put a link to the registration page and more information in the show notes.

[00:00:58] Goals of Robotic Milking Systems

For those who aren’t familiar with milking robots, these systems have several goals. They can increase milk production, reduce labor costs and increase the autonomy of the animals, which can also improve cow welfare. When considering whether to implement robots, however, there are several things to keep in mind.

[00:01:29] Milk Production

One of the main benefits is an increase in milk production. We see this increase with milking robots, whether the farm has a guided-flow or free-flow system, because the cows are milked more frequently each day. The increase in milk production is roughly two to five pounds of milk per cow per day. It depends on the breed, the individual cow and many other management factors.

[00:01:53] Milking Frequency and Labor

We see this increase in production because of the greater number of milkings. Producers who already milk in a parlor more than twice per day may also see this effect. There is also a labor-saving component. Instead of having people milk the cows, you have a robot performing that task.

[00:02:09] Cost and Capacity

Most milking robots can cost anywhere from $140,000 to $200,000. The final cost depends on which model you choose and the features and accessories you add. If you’re implementing one robot, you generally need about 60 cows per robot. If you want to expand your herd, you’ll need to consider investing in additional robots.

[00:02:37] Facility Design and Cow Traffic

Whether you’re retrofitting an existing facility or building a new one is another important consideration. Although a robot may save labor after it has been paid off, there will still be maintenance costs. These include parts, detergents and other supplies, along with the cost of any accessories added to the robot. I always recommend that producers visit as many robotic dairies as possible. This gives them an opportunity to ask questions, examine facility designs and understand how they may want to design their own facilities. They should also consider what type of cow traffic system they want.

[00:03:18] Guided-Flow Systems

In a guided-flow system, the facility is arranged so that access to resources such as feed is controlled. This motivates cows to move through the milking robot. For example, when cows want to access feed, they may first have to pass through the milking robot.

[00:03:37] Free-Flow Systems

In a free-flow system, cows have unrestricted access to both the feed and the robot. A cow can get up and go to the robot or go directly to the feed without a restriction directing her movement. One thing producers need to focus on with a milking robot is consistency in the daily schedule.

[00:03:59] The Importance of Consistency

Cows thrive on consistency. This becomes especially important in a robotic system because cows approach the robot voluntarily whenever they want to be milked. When cows get up to visit the robot, we also want them to visit the feed bunk or water trough. Producers need to maintain consistency by ensuring that water is always available and cows always have access to feed.

[00:04:26] Feed Access and Transition Cows

Feed should be pushed up and available in front of the cows. This helps achieve the increase in production expected from a robotic milking system. Producers also want to increase the number of cow visits per robot. This is particularly important for transition cows. Transition cows are moving from the nonlactating period into lactation. They are among the most vulnerable or susceptible animals in the herd when major changes occur. They have recently calved, are beginning a new lactation and may be entering a pen with cows that have already been using the robot for some time. These cows need access to the robot so they can be milked. Consistency is especially important because we want transition cows to visit the robot frequently.

[00:05:18] Robotic Milking Budget Tool

We want transition cows to develop the habit of visiting the robot as frequently as possible so they can successfully transition into lactation. There is a useful resource that I’ll share with listeners. Dr. Victor Cabrera at the University of Wisconsin-Madison created a budgeting tool that allows producers to simulate what their farm might look like if they implemented a robotic milking system. I’ll share this and several other resources in the show notes.

[00:05:51] Manure Management in Robotic Barns

One issue I want to expand on, which people sometimes overlook, is the need for a consistent schedule when handling manure. Manure handling in a robotic milking barn may look similar to manure handling in another facility, but disruptions to the cows’ schedules may decrease the number of visits they make to the robot. Many producers need to change their manure-handling plan because they want to minimize disruptions and encourage cows to visit the milking robot as frequently as possible. That is why we’re going to talk about manure robots. They can complement a robotic milking facility, but a farm does not need to have a robotic milking system to use a manure robot.

[00:06:43] Labor and Cow-Hygiene Benefits

I have seen two farms in New England that use manure robots even though they don’t have robotic milking systems. Those farms wanted to reallocate the labor previously used to clean the pens, so they implemented manure robots. Like robotic milking systems, manure robots can reduce labor. They may also improve udder and hoof hygiene and minimize disruptions to cow behavior. This is especially relevant in a robotic milking system because the manure robot is continuously working in the background. There isn’t a skid steer regularly entering and leaving the pen as there might be in a conventional facility.

[00:07:34] Types of Manure Robots

There are many manure robots and brands on the market. Producers can research the different options, but some of the most common models I’ve seen include the Lely Discovery and the JOZ Barn-E. These robots generally operate in one of two ways: They either collect manure through a vacuum-type system or scrape it from the floor.

[00:08:11] Flooring and Equipment Considerations

Not every robot works on flat concrete floors. Some manure robots are designed for slatted floors. Many of these products are manufactured in Europe, which is another factor to consider. Depending on which robot you purchase, there may be significant shipping costs. As with milking robots, one of the benefits is reduced labor. Instead of having someone scrape manure from the pens, either while the cows are in the pen or while they are away for milking, the manure robot performs that work.

[00:08:48] Cleaner Walkways, Hooves and Udders

The manure robot can work throughout the day to clean the facility. In addition to labor savings, a farm that currently uses a skid steer may save on fuel, tires and other operating costs. Producers have also reported improvements in the cleanliness and hygiene of hooves and udders. This is primarily because frequent manure removal creates cleaner and drier walkways

[00:09:27] Farm Robot Capacity and Infrastructure

Instead of scraping manure twice per day, for example, a robot may scrape five or six times per day, depending on the facility setup and the number of cows served by each robot. Producers also need to consider how many robots they will need. On average, one manure robot may be able to serve approximately 100 to 120 cows. Farms with more cows may need a second robot, which may bring additional maintenance costs. Another critical requirement for automated technologies is reliable connectivity, internet service and electricity.

[00:10:10] Power Outages and Generators

Power outages are common in Maine, and many farms have generators. Producers should still consider their backup plan. Will you operate a skid steer if the robot cannot run? How will you handle manure during a power outage or equipment failure?

[00:10:23] Common Problems with Manure Robots

I’ll share an abstract in the show notes that discusses some reasons manure robots have stopped working. This was only one abstract from one study, but the reported problems included robots becoming stuck, dirty sensors that prevented robots from following their cleaning routes and problems with charging. These robots generally work well, but they can encounter problems. Those are some of the issues that have been reported when a robot stops operating.

[00:11:00] Cold Weather and Farm Experience

Here in Maine and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, winter conditions are another consideration. Manure contains a significant amount of water. One farmer previously reported being unable to use the farm’s manure robots for one or two days of the year because it was simply too cold for the robots to operate. Outside of those circumstances, most farmers report being very happy with their manure robots. They say the robots are a beneficial addition to the farm. The labor that was previously used to scrape manure with a skid steer or another tool can be reallocated to other farm responsibilities. One study also reported a reduction in hoof disorders within a herd.

[00:11:50] Hoof Disorders and Field Day Promotion

The reduction in hoof disorders was associated with the increased frequency of manure removal. When manure is removed more frequently, cows stand and walk in a cleaner, drier environment. This may provide the added benefit of reducing hoof disorders and potentially improving claw and foot health. There are many potential benefits to manure robots, and we are holding a field day where you can see these robots in action. The event will be held on Tuesday, June 30. Be sure to join us if you’re curious about these types of automated systems for dairy farms.

[12:31] Closing

If you have questions or comments, or if you would like to suggest a topic for a future episode, email us at extension.farmcast@maine.edu.