Robotic milking systems (RMS) are becoming increasingly common on dairy farms. Many producers choose this technology to improve labor flexibility and enhance quality of life for both themselves and their employees.
Feeding Management Is Key to RMS Performance
Feeding management is often ranked as the most important factor for success with RMS.
With RMS, feeding strategies must balance both the partial mixed ration (PMR) provided at the feed bunk and the concentrate pellet offered in the milking station. This can be especially challenging on farms with free-flow traffic, where cows can move freely between feeding, resting, and milking areas.
The concentrate pellet plays a major role in motivating cows to visit the milking robot. It needs to be palatable and appealing. Some farms offer different pellets depending on a cow’s stage of lactation—for example, a high-energy pellet for early-lactation cows and a more economical one for later stages.
Surveys show a recent trend toward reducing the amount of feed provided in the milking station, especially on farms with guided cow traffic. Earlier data suggested that PMRs were formulated for milk production levels 15 to 30 pounds below herd average in free-flow systems and 8 to 15 pounds below average in guided flow systems. More recently, guided flow farms are using PMRs that more closely resemble traditional totally mixed rations (TMRs).
Feed Quality and Consistency Matter
The quality of forage and consistent dry matter in the PMR are essential. According to nutritionists, the most important feeding-related factors for RMS success include:
-
Consistent PMR dry matter content
-
Even mixing and delivery of feed
-
Frequent feed push-ups
-
Prompt and regular fetching of cows, especially fresh ones
-
Palatable and consistent PMR and concentrate feed
In short, consistency at every step makes a big difference in results.
Maintaining Milk Quality with RMS
Robotic milking offers some clear advantages for udder health. For instance, individual quarter milking helps reduce overmilking, which can improve teat-end condition. There’s also a lower risk of antibiotic contamination from treated cows—if their IDs are correctly entered and milk is automatically discarded.
Teat Preparation Challenges
One ongoing challenge is effective teat cleaning. A European study found that only 67% of cleaning cycles fully brushed all four teats. In the best-performing farms, this success rate was over 95%. Common causes of failure included equipment malfunctions and restless cow behavior, while udder shape or teat structure also played a role in partial cleaning failures.
Mastitis Detection
Detecting clinical mastitis remains difficult. While newer technologies have improved detection, some cases can still be missed. Routine bulk tank milk culturing can help identify the presence of contagious bacteria, and some farms use additional cleaning tools to help control the spread.
Tips to Support Udder Health in RMS
Here are a few key practices that can help maintain udder health in a robotic milking system:
-
Encourage cows to visit the robot regularly. Long gaps between milkings can lead to leaking and increase mastitis risk.
-
Keep stalls and the barn clean. Robots don’t differentiate between clean and dirty udders.
-
Clean the milking units, robot, and surrounding area regularly.
-
Fine-tune system settings to suit your barn layout, bedding, and herd. Default settings may not be ideal.
-
Adjust teat stimulation and drying time based on cow breed, udder shape, and teat size.
-
Quickly identify and manage incomplete milkings, as these can raise the risk of infection.
A Team Effort
As knowledge and experience with RMS continue to grow, so does overall satisfaction. Getting the most from robotic milking takes a team approach—producers, service technicians, nutritionists, and veterinarians all play a role in keeping systems running smoothly and cows healthy.
With the right management, RMS can support strong production, better animal care, and a more balanced lifestyle for those working on the farm.
