A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 19,2002
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Capitol Region Dairy Team
WILL A ROBOT
BE MILKING
YOUR COWS?
Vinton Smith
Dairy Agent
Adams, Cumberland,
And York Counties
Robotic milking technology is
used in Pennsylvania!
Three dairy farms are using at
least one robotic milker on their
farm. They are on the front edge
of innovation as they implement
this technology in milking cows.
However, there are dozens of
other dairy producers throughout
Pennsylvania watching them
waiting to decide if they too will
invest in this technology.
Economics, milk quality, and
regulations are three of the big
gest concerns that Pennsylvania
dairy businesses have at this time
regarding robotic milking tech
nology. Many are looking at the
capital investment costs and
thinking that this is just too ex
pensive. Some are saying, “We
will not sacrifice milk quality in
order to use robots.” Others are
concerned about how the Penn
sylvania Department of Agricul
ture will regulate this technology
that is only being approved on a
case-by-case basis at this time. I
will address all three of these is
sues in this column to help you
better understand this technolo
gy-
• Economics; This is one of
the biggest questions, “Can I af
ford to buy a robotic milker to
milk my cows?” The answer to
the question will be unique to
each and every one of you. You
will need to take into considera
tion your current investment in
facilities, your need to invest in
new facilities, your current and
expected future labor costs, your
level of production, and other
“noneconomic” factors. These
are all very important in deter
mining if you can afford to invest
in this technology.
Evaluating your current facili
ties will lead to much of the input
into the your decision making
process. Do you have outdated
facilities that will need to be re
placed or are in need of major re
pairs? If your current facilities
are “well-used,” have paid for
themselves, and you are consid
ering replacing them, then it
makes economic sense to evalu
ate all alternatives. On the other
hand, if you built a new milking
parlor just a few f years ago, it
makes more sense to continue
using that parlor until it has at
least paid for itself. Challenges
related to finding and maintain
ing a quality workforce are often
key issues that encourage dairy
producers to consider investing in
robotic milking technology.
Clearly, a dairy producer using
a robotic milker will be able to re
Foraging Around, the official publication of the Pennsylvania Forage and
Grassland Council, scheduled February 9 in Lancaster Farming, is scheduled to
duce the number of employees he
or she hires. In addition, investi
ng in robotic milking technology
can enable a dairy producer to
expand his or her herd without
adding new employees. Ultimate
ly, this will increase the cows per
worker on the farm leading to
improved labor efficiency. How
ever, you must closely evaluate
your savings in labor costs and
compare it to your projected in
crease in capital cost with a ro
botic milker.
Your level of milk production
and your efficiency of producing
milk is a key fact that makes a
major difference in the economic
viability of any investment in
new technology, including robotic
milkers. Given similar input
costs, the farms with higher levels
of milk production will be more
profitable. The cost of a new par
lor or a robotic milker can be
spread out over more hundred
weights of milk, making the in
vestment more economical. Re
gardless of your future
investment decisions, be sure to
be realistic about your future pro
duction levels.
Noneconomic factors such as
“quality of life” have been a big
part of the decision-making pro
cess to Canadian and European
dairy producers who have in
vested in robotic milking technol
ogy. The technology has given
them more flexibility in their
work routine. However, it has not
reduced their need to work in the
barn and around the cows. A
robot will only milk the cows; it
can’t do everything.
• Milk quality: Producing high
quality milk will lead to a more
profitable dairy business. Quality
premiums can be as much as $.50
per CWT. That can add up to a
substantial amount of money
over an entire year. Regardless of
the type of milking technology
being used, focusing on detail
and paying attention to the little
things will often lead to improved
milk quality.
Generally speaking, dairy
farms that have switched to using
robotic milking technology have
not had problems producing milk
that is safe and within the legal
limits of quality. However, many
farms have lost a little in terms of
their level of milk quality. If you
are thinking about investing in
robotic milking technology, don’t
expect to improve the quality of
milk that you are producing now
just by switching to robots. Per
haps, over time and with a focus
on detail, you will see an im
provement.
• Regulation; Officials in the
Bureau of Food Safety, part of
the Department of Agriculture
(PDA), have been very proactive
and supportive of robotic milking
technology. They are working
Pa. Junior Holstein Meeting Feb. 8
ALTOONA (Blair Co.) The
Pennsylvania Junior Holstein As
sociation annual meeting will be
Friday, Feb. 8, at 7:15 p.m. at the
Ramada Inn, Altoona.
The agenda will include a re
view of the 2001 junior activities,
reports on upcoming events, and
fundraisers for 2002.
The junior membership will
also be reviewing their bylaws
and voting on a few changes as
presented by the Junior Execu
tive Committee.
The Ramada Inn is located
just off 1-99 (old Rt. 220) at the
Plank Road exit, Altoona.
All Pennsylvania Junior Hol
stein Association members are in
vited to attend the annual meet
ing and convention Feb. 8-10 at
the Raqiada Inn, Altoona.
closely with the current robotic
milker installations to monitor
milk quality and to learn as
much as they can about this tech
nology. 1 believe they realize that
robotic milking is here to stay
and they don’t want to limit pro
gress of the Pennsylvania dairy
industry.
PDA is approving robotic
milking installations on a case
by-case basis. They are closely
evaluating every aspect of the in
stallation to assure that the
equipment at least meets the
standard requirements the state
has imposed on all milking sys
tems. Officials in PDA have
worked closely and proactively
with the dairy producers using
robotic milkers before the milkers
were even installed to limit prob
lems and concerns in the future.
• Visit a farm with a robot
milker: The Capitol Region
Dairy Team has organized a pro
gram at H. E. Heindel & Sons
farm in Brogue (York County)
called “Robotic Milking in Penn
sylvania.” It will be conducted
Jan. 31, 2002 from 9:30 a.m. to 3
p.m. This farm has had four ro
botic milkers installed since last
summer. The farm’s dairy man
ager. officials from PDA, capitol
region extension agents, faculty
from Penn State, and representa
tives from Lely will be on hand to
present information and to dis
cuss questions you may have.
Cost for the program is only $l5
and includes lunch. To register,
please call (717) 840-7408 or e
mail vsmith@psu.edu.
Robotic Milking Meeting To
Take Place At York County Farm
BROGUE (York Co.) Penn
sylvania now has three farms
using robotic milkers. Many
other people are watching these
three dairy farms as they also
consider investing in this new
technology. Seeing a robotic
milker in operation and having a
discussion with key people that
were involved in the decision
meiking process can be very help
ful to gain a better understanding
of this technology.
The Capital Region Dairy
Team has coordinated an inform
ational farm meeting about ro
botic milking. It will take place at
the H. E. Heindel & Sons Farm
in York County, on Jan. 31 from
9:30 a.m to 3 p.m. The Heindel’s
have been using four Lely Astro
naut robotic milkers since last
summer. You will see their robot
ic milkers and have an opportu
nity to learn first-hand about this Alfred Kamps with Lely USA,
technology. Inc. and Darlene Wiggens, dairy
/. Jeff Hyde, professor of ag- manager at the Heindel Farm
Itural economic at Penn will discuss the installation and
the economics of robotic Heindel Farm. Kamps will also
2002 PENNSYLVANIA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION
11 00A M NORTHWEST REGIONAL SHOW & SALE MTG
HOWARD JOHNSON'S INN MERCER, PA
JANUARY 18
7 OOP M FRANKLIN COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
MRS GIBBLE'S RESTAURANT, CHAMBERSBURG PA
JANUARY 18
11 30 A M BRADFORD COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
BEEMAN'S RESTAURANT, ATHENS. PA
JANUARY 19
11 45 A M BUTLER COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
GARDEN GATE RESTAURANT. PROSPECT, PA
JANUARY 19
7 00 P M CLARION/VENANGO COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
WOLFS DEN RESTAURANT, KNOX, PA
JANUARY 19
7 00 P M HUNTINGDON COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
SHAVER'S CREEK COMMUNITY BUILDING. SHAVERS CREEK. PA
JANUARY 19
11 00 A M SOUTH-CENTRAL SHOW & SALE MEETING
OLD COUNTRY BUFFET, HARRISBURG, PA
JANUARY 31
7 30 P M BEAVER/LAWRENCE COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
HOLIDAY INN. BEAVER FALLS, PA
FEBRUARY 2
FEBRUARY 8-10 PENNSYLVANIA JUNIOR HOLSTEIN CONVENTION
RAMADA INN, ALTOONA, PA
FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 2 PENNSYLVANIA HOLSTEIN CONVENTION
RAM ADA INN & BLAIR COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER.
ALTOONA. PA
PA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION 89™ ANNUAL MEETING
BLAIR COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER, ALTOONA, PA
MARCH 1
7 00 P M PA HOLSTEIN CONVENTION SALE
BLAIR COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER. ALTOONA, PA
MARCH I
7 00 P M PERRY COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
MESSIAH LUTHERN CHURCH
MARCH 7
7 00 P M SNYDER COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
MCDDLEBURG FIREHALL. MIDDLEBURG PA
MARCH 15
7 00 P M SOMERSET COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
BERLIN COMMUNITY BUILDING. BERLIN PA
MARCH 15
9 30A M PA HOLSTEIN SPRING SHOW
FARM SHOW BUILDING HARRISBURG PA
MARCH 29
7 00 P M SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY HOLSTEIN CLUB SALE
HAROLD HARTT FARM SUSQHEHANNA PA
APRILS
7 (10 P M WESTERN PA SPRING SPECTACULAR SALE
MERCER COUNTY 4-H PARK MERCER PA
APRIL 12
7 00PM SOUTHWEST SENSATION SALE
FAYETTE COUNTS FAIRGROUNDS UNIONTOWN PA
APRIL 19
NATIONAL HOLSTEIN CONVENTION
TRUMP TAJ M-SHAL ATLANTIC Cll 5 NJ
JUNE 25 28
10 OOA M SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
FAYETTE COUNTS FAIRGROUNDS UNIONTOWN PA
JULT 27
AUGUST 17
6 00PM CENTRAL CHAMPIONSHIP SI IOW
HUNTINGDON COUNTT FAIRGROUNDS HUNTINGDON PA
10 OOA M NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
ALPION PARK, TROY PA
AUGUST 20
9 OOA M PA HOLSTEIN FALL CHAMPE INSHIP SHOW
FARM SHOW BUILDING HARRISBURG PA
SEPTEMBER 24
7 OOP M EASTERN ELITE HOLSTEIN SALE
FARM SHOW BUILDING HARRISBURG PA
SEPTEMBER 25
8 OOA M EASTERN NATIONAL HOLST EIN SHOW
FARM SHOW BUILDING HARISBURG PA
SEPTEMBER 26
11 OOA M NITTANY LION FALL CLASSIC SALE
AG ARENA, STATE COLLEGE. PA
NOVEMBER 16
milking. He will illustrate a new
economic model that dairymen
can use to determine whether this
technology would be a sound eco
nomical decision for their indi
vidual farms.
Jim Dell, chief of the Division
of Milk Sanitation with the Penn
sylvania Department of Agricul
ture will discuss regulatory issues
related to installing and using ro
botic milkers and concerns about
maintaining milk quality. He will
share PDA’s perspective on this
advanced technology for dairy
producers in Pennsylvania.
Dan McFarland, regional agri
cultural engineering extension
agent will present information
about facility design. He will
focus on issues that impact or
change normal dairy herd man
agement practices when a dairy
producer begins to use a robotic
milker.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
present ideas about bam lay out
and design in both new and exist
ing facilities.
The program will begin in the
morning at the Brown Cow
County Market (the Heindel
Family retail market) located on
Route 74 in Brogue. Information
will be presented and a panel dis
cussion will be held in the morn
ing. Following lunch, the pro
gram will move to the families
new dairy facilities with the ro
botic milkers. Speakers will then
lead more discussion about the
installation, operation, and man
agement of robotic milkers.
You will have the opportunity
to observe robotic milkers in op
eration and see first hand the
challenges and successes that the
Heindel Farm is having with this
technology. Cost of the program
is $l5 and includes lunch. For
more information about this pro
gram or to register, call Customer
Service at Penn State Coopera
tive Extension in York County at
(717) 840-7408 or email Vinton
Smith at ysTOith@psu.edu.hy.Jaa..