Show Notes
How much can a cow eat while she is in the robot? John and Gareth discuss how milking duration, form, and feed settings affect what cows are able to consume while they are in the robots.
More from Worldwide Robotic Milking
In this episode, Gareth and John visited with Doyle Waybright of Mason-Dixon farms. As Gareth said, "You really produced the blueprint for large herds from your own experiences.” Doyle told us about his barn, what worked, what didn't, why he is optimistic about robotics for large herds, and why he is not milking with robots anymore.
A footbath is an essential part of a robot barn. Too often it is an afterthought. In this episode, we discuss footbath locations and use, and the potential impact on cow traffic.
Jim Salfer from University of Minnesota Extension came back for a second episode. This time we focused on economic models he has created for profitability and labor efficiency.
Jim Salfer, from University of Minnesota Extension chatted with us about how we have gotten where we are. We talked about everything from his first robotic milking open house, through the early adapters, and the latest concepts. What drove the innovation then, and what keeps it going today?
John and Gareth talk about the unique challenges of maintaining bedding and removing manure when cows are always in the pen.