Could robots work in my barn?
It can be difficult to let a building sit idle that has plenty of useful life yet. For farms looking to make the switch to robotic milking, a barn retrofit might be possible, but a few questions must first be asked.
Joe Zulovich, an agricultural engineer with University of Missouri Extension, talked about building design and retrofit opportunities for robotic milking during the Dairy Practices Council’s Automated Milking Systems Virtual Workshop.
First, he covered the basics of quality cattle housing: resting space, room to eat and drink, ventilation, cow cooling, and animal handling capabilities. He said that housing is critical to the success of an automated milking system.