WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ROBOTIC MILKING?

If you ask 100 dairy farmers why they chose robotic milking, you will probably get at least 50 different answers. Many started looking at robots because they wanted to save labor, or make their schedule more flexible. As they learned more, they may have come to expect higher production, longer productive life, or more consistency. Others want to encourage the next generation, or reduce the physical demands of dairy farming.

If you follow robotic milking groups on social media like I do, you know that every few months there is a post from someone considering robotic milking, asking those with more experience why they chose robotic milking, and whether they would choose it again. Most of the comments fall into 2 groups. It is either the best thing they ever did or the worst thing they ever did. That’s interesting because both groups are using the same robots, to milk similar cows, in similar facilities. I would even venture to say that members of both groups have really bad days when the robots don’t do what they are supposed to do, and really good days when the robots do exactly what they are supposed to do.

Here is a comment I found in one of those posts from a member of the “Best thing they ever

did” group. “There’s a lot more to robots than just milking the cows. They change the whole environment and life of the animals as well. All for additional bonus. The barn becomes just a nice quiet place where cows just go about their business. Cows last longer, better longer lasting udders through the flexible milking, we have seen conception rates rise significantly. Cow health improves as you only feed a cow based on their needs, fat cows disappear. Just some things gotta consider besides what it would cost for the machine. We are almost 20 years in on red machines. I wouldn’t do it any other way. I do most of my own repairs and diagnosing and can keep running cost fairly low.”

Read those first 6 sentences again and count how many of them refer to the cows. I think it is safe to say that this gentlemen likes robots because of what they do for his cows. That’s his why. Other why’s can work. One why isn’t necessarily better than another. The point is to know why you want robots and focus on making them do that thing. Simon Sinek is known for helping people start with why. He says, “Very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. By WHY I mean your purpose, cause or belief - WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care?” Why does your dairy exist, and how will robots help you do that better?

If you install robots for the sake of having robots, you will have robots, but you might not have the results that you want. If you install robots to take better care of your cows, encourage the next generation, or use your time more efficiently, any of those why’s (and more) can improve your focus and help you get the results you want. At Cow Corner, we work with your “why” to help you get the most from your robots.