The Automatic Feeling With Robotic Milking Robert E. Graves Penn State Agricultural and Engineering Extension I recently attended the North American Confer ence on Robotic Milking in Toronto, Canada. Over 320 people from 21 countries gathered to discuss this radical change in dairy farm organization, Hiring Custom Operators (Continued from Page 46) through the use of a custom operator can improve performance in areas other than what the operator was hired for. So, if a custom operator is hired to harvest forage and forage quality is thus improved, milk production and healthcare costs may also im prove. Therefore, these improvements should be in cluded in the partial budget analysis under in creased revenues and decreased expenses. Following the six steps outlined above can assist producers in making the decision of whether to hire the services of a custom operator. Thorough analy sis can demonstrate that hiring custom operators to achieve production goals can be a low cost method of improving profitability. When It’s Time To Make Improvements* *• ... Choose STEIN-WAY Barn Equipment • Free Stalls • Sand Traps • Self-locks • Waterers • Gates • Bale Boss Hay Savers Sold by: Joe Speicher (814) 624-0370 1-888-605-2422 management, and equipment. An Automatic Milk ing System (AMS) is not just substituting a manipu lator and computer for a human being attaching milking machines. It’s an alternative method for approaching the production of milk. This technology was developed in Europe to allow family farms (less than 100 cows) to improve their profitability and lifestyle without the cost and complexity of hiring labor. The more I study these systems the more I am convinced that one has to ap proach use of automatic milking (milking robots) from a whole new perspective. Just like our success ful freestall operations of today are more than “just letting the cows wander around a modified tie stall barn,” AMS are more than just placing an auto matic milking box in the old milking parlor and going to the golf course. To be successful, the entire dairy management system, including the operator, must be appropriate for the situation. What’s your “automatic feeling” when you hear about these automatic milking (AM) systems? Fol lowing are some observations, including some multiple-choice answers. Where do you fit? • “Too expensive.” Automatic milking systems (Turn to Page 48) Keeps Out Birds and Livestock mimmi CUSTOM GATES & HEADLOCKS • Heavy duty construction - High Strength Uga. 1-7/8" 0D Pipe • Custom Made to Your Specifications 1 • Stockyard Fencing • Corral Panels • Round Pens • Very competitive prices *S!!sSS&SSB&: 768 White Oak Rd , Christiana, PA wnanfii 61 0-593-81Z8 (Voice Mail) Also available at Daniel’s Farm Store, Leola, PA (717) 656-6982
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