NMC Farm Tour, September 8

This year's NMC Regional Meeting will feature a farm tour of Michigan State University's W.K. Kellogg Biological Station where researchers recently installed Lely's Astronaut robotic milking system.

The below is information from NMC's website:

Robotic Milking System and Pasture-Based Dairy Center at the Michigan State University W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, Michigan

Date and time: Wednesday, September 8, 11:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tour size limit: 40 people.
Fee: $50 (includes lunch and transportation to and from the farm)

The Kellogg Farm at the Michigan State University Kellogg Biological Station transitioned from a confinement dairy with 3X milking to a pasture-based dairy with automatic milking (robotic milking) in the summer of 2009 (see Michigan State University YouTube video below). In July, the herd of 100 lactating Holstein cows was moved from the old dairy facility to the new pasture dairy barn. Cows were first trained to use the robotic milking system before being introduced to the pasture later in the summer. Cows will have access to the pasture for approximately a six month grazing period each year and will be confined to the dairy barn for the remainder of the year.

Tour participants will have an opportunity to see the robotic milking system in operation and learn about management of the dairy and our experience as we transitioned to the new dairy system. Drs. Janice Siegford and Santiago Utsumi, Michigan State University Department of Animal Science, will report on changes in animal behavior and health as well as changes in milk quantity and quality during this transition. Drs. Siegford and Utsumi will also discuss future research involving robotic milking systems and pasture-based dairy management.

Registration closes August 31. Early registration is recommended as there are limited spots available.

Click here to read full farm tour details online.

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."