No robots, but it looks fun anyway.

A video from a dairy open house in Firth, Nebraska was recently posted. Looks like a lot of fun, with a great crowd. It's probably a safe bet that it also gave a lot of people that much more confidence and assurance in the milk products they consume. It's the fifth year for the event, and they have built it up very nicely.

However, if the dairy was using Lely Astronaut A3s, the large crowds would likely disrupt the cows' free traffic routine to the milker, unless an observation area was in place a safe distance from the pens. Habit and routine, right down to the hour or even half hour, are so important to cows in the free-cow-traffic system that is the basis for Lely robotic milking.

You can't help but appreciate how a dairy like this is helping reinforce the benefits and qualities of our industry in a very fan-friendly way. Congrats on a great event.

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Adventures in robotics: the Toyota Trumpet Player

Well, we're all about robotic innovation that helps improve the quality of life of our customers while improving their financial position as well. The little robotic puppy dogs that can walk and bark are nice, but can't really help run a business. And they probably don't endure 15 to 20 years of 24/7 operation.

Still. we have to tip our hat when we see technologies that are simply amazing to behold. The clip below of the trumpeting robot from Toyota of Japan has the YouTube community debating whether a secret soundtrack is playing somewhere offstage or the robot is actually playing the instrument. You can decide, however, we don't think Toyota would jeopardize its reputation trying to fake something like this that is a demonstration showcase of its technology.




Toyota's own literature tells the story:

"To play musical instruments Toyota developed artificial lips that move with the same finesse as human lips, which, together with robots` hands, enables the robots to play trumpets like humans do."

Financial challenges in dairy land

The Capitol Times in Madison published a well-written piece about the state of the dairy economy. View it here.

With a tight economy and tough milk prices, one might think that all investment in dairy assets has ground to a stone-cold halt.

Not so. If a technology can prove itself as a force for cost and efficiency improvement, it will find a market in most any economic climate. Our installation volume of Lely milking robots is proving that at this very moment. And if the growing number of open houses on farms using Lely systems is any indicator, that market is highly engaged in learning about this free-cow traffic technology.

One small example: Greg Hetrick of Nelson, WI, (that's him in the bright blue shirt) has a captive audience of dairymen as he talks about operating his small organic dairy with two Lely A3 robots. This was part of a tour last month where farmers hopped on a bus and visited 5 robotic dairy farms. (Click the photo for a larger, more detailed view.)

Now that you've got robots, you have time to kill, right?

This is a game your kids or young 'uns can play. It's all about the farm and about getting products to market on time (and getting your money for them!)

Not on the scale of Guitar Hero, but see if you get just a little bit addicted. (The game takes about 15 seconds to load).

Farmer Run your farm, grow your crops and provide the shops with supplies.

Play this free game now!!

Is a new cattle market taking shape?...

While on the upper Midwest robotic dairy tour two weeks ago, we heard word of something very interesting. A dairy operator was putting the word out that he is looking to buy 30 dairy cows that are Lely "robot trained." Is a new market forming before our eyes?

As Lely developed the Astronaut, cow movement has progressed, with today's system adopting free cow traffic with very few obstructions in the cow's path on her way to the Astronaut. This has revolutionized robotic milking with almost unbelievable results. When cows are outside grazing, it is an amazing sight to witness stress-free cows walking considerable distances to be milked in the Astronaut.

With the Astronaut A3 system, each cow is allowed to carry out all of the habits she was born to do naturally. She is under less stress, the cow's health improves because pain, injury and disease is less likely. She can eat, drink and rest when she wants to, resulting in freedom from discomfort and pressure which has a calming effect for both cow and farmer.

All of these free-traffic benefits result in healthier cows, more milk per cow and more profit per cow.

Robots Down Under

Take a look that this site: Winnindoo, the dairy farm of Max and Evelyn Warren in Victoria, Australia. They are using Lely milking robots for pasture-grazing cows. They were the first 100% pasture-based dairy farm to install robotic milking systems. They began with Lely A2s and have now installed four A3s.

The site gives a lot of information about the farm's operations and production experience. But perhaps the most poignant comment on the site from Max and Evelyn is this:

"We made the conscious decision to remain dairy farming well into retirement age as opposed to lounging on a beach somewhere up north. The robotic milking system allows the older farmer to maintain total involvement with a reduced need for the high levels of physical input normally required. We see that automatic milking systems will extend the possible working life of dairy farmers."