Precision Robot Dairy Management:
Solving the problem before it appears
Ben Smink
Lely North America
Farm Management Support
bsmink@lely.com / 608 698 7416
‘No one knows his cows better than ......’
www.lely.com
Precision Robot Dairy Management
• In this presentation:
 Farmers perspective
 Veterinarian perspective
 Critical Success Factors
 Advisors perspective
Herd Information Management
• Robotic vs. Conventional milking:
 Different cow contact: Parlor <-> Barn
 More ‘Quality Time’ with ‘natural’ behaving cows
 More sensor technology
 Much more real time info!!!!.
> 120 Values/cow/day from the robot:
Activity*
Rumination*
Feed intake
Weight*
* = option
+ combinations of all of the above ...
+ combinations with calendar + health events.
Milk Yield
Milk Fat
Milk Protein
Milk Lactose
Milk Speed
Milk Temperature
SCC class*
Robot visits
Box times
Per Quarter:
- Yield contribution
- Teat position
- Pre Milk Time
- Milk Time
- Conductivity
- Color
Sensor + calendar info:
Automatic Analysis of:
√ Udder health
√ Body health
√ Reproduction
Precision Dairy Management: Farmer perspective
•
Combination of sensors are more than the sum of data
•
Data becomes practical Information:
 Earlier alerts
 Prevent sickness or loss of production
 Improved health, production, reproduction and longevity!
•
Proactive instead of Reactive
•
But it’s not magic:
 A bad cow person will not become a good cow person
 Excellent cow comfort + herd management are the key!
Precision Robot Dairy Management
• In this presentation:
 Farmers perspective
 Veterinarian perspective
 Critical Success Factors
 Advisors perspective
Attention lists
Example Udder Health
Combines info all quarter sensors
Click cow to
view history
Attention lists
Example Heat Probability
Combines info activity sensor and calendar
Click cow to
view history
Attention lists
Example Rumination attentions
Click cow to
view details
Note:
- Milk drop Feb.
- Heat March
And now
- Metabolic problems
Attention lists
Example metabolic health
Fat/Protein ratios:
< 1: Acidosis
> 1.5: Ketosis
Attention lists
It all comes together: Body health
Cow 32: attentions on:
- loosing too much weight
- lower feed intake
 No good start after calving
Long term analysis: Daily
progress
Historic progress of herds / groups / cows:
Yield / fat / protein / milk visits / feed intake / cow weight / rumination
Long term analysis: Lactation
progress
Lactation progress of herds / groups / cows:
Yield / fat / protein / milk visits / feed intake / cow weight / rumination
Long term analysis
TMR/PMR for successful robotic milking
Typical TMR:
Av milk + 10%
Typical PMR:
Av milk – 7 kg
Few fetch cows
Lots of fetch cows
Long term analysis: Reproduction
DIM vs. Yield vs. Fertility status
Overview
Long term analysis:
Timing Insemination
Optimize moment of insemination xx hours after heat attention
Long term analysis: Total
Historic progress milk robots:
farm output
7 robots
14.000 kg milk/day
1100 milkings
still 30 % free capacity / day
Long term analysis
Cow – Robot efficiency
How efficient is the cow for the robot:
4 kg per minute in the tank, or 1 kg per minute
Precision Robot Dairy Management
• In this presentation:
 Farmers perspective
 Veterinarian perspective
 Critical Success Factors
 Advisors perspective
Study 57 North American Robot Startups
• Implementing Automatic Milking is not about milking cows.....
....it is about proper herd management:
• Success factors AMS:
1. Barn layout: great cow comfort, lots of space, open AMS access
2. Perfect feed ration encouraging cows to go to the robot
3. Professional guidance during the transition period into AMS
4. Proper use of Precision Dairy Management tools
(Proceedings NMC January 2012).
Precision Dairy Management: Advisor perspective:
•
Better long term decisions on farm/herd/group/pen level:
 Mastitis prevention; Transition Management; Milk Quality; ...
 Feed ration; Effective Fiber; Ketosis; Acidosis; ...
•
Real Time information:
 GPS navigation instead of Accounting Tax
•
Way to consult is different:
 Right or wrong, Farmer more knowledgeable
 Come up with ‘Scenarios’ instead of ‘Advice’
 Excellent Pro-Active Farm Management Support is key.
Data exchange robot systems:
90% milk robot systems connected to internet
 Technical support
80% Lely robot systems connected to Benchmark
 Data cloud on the Internet
 Robot producers compare results with each other
 Advisors can assess farmers robot and herd results
Precision Dairy Management
Take Home Messages:
• Producer has the herd info in all details:
 Right or wrong, Farmer more knowledgeable
 Consultants are not always used to that position ......
 Renew link: Extra Cow Info <> Observations <> Health Analysis
 Come up with ‘Scenarios’ instead of ‘Advise’
• We (consultants and suppliers) have to cooperate:
 To interpret and use all available extra herd info correctly
 To show the producer to use his extra herd info correctly
Thank you for your attention. Questions?