meta Iowa family says switching to robotic milkers was right for them :: The Bullvine - The Dairy Information You Want To Know When You Need It

Iowa family says switching to robotic milkers was right for them


An Iowa family says upgrading to robotic milkers four years ago was the right decision.

Lance and Jonna Schutte from Monona, Iowa tells Brownfield the investment was worth it.  Jonna says, “Absolutely.  Obviously, the milk price could be higher and it would make it even easier but we’re paying a lot of the times what we would be paying to hire labor.”

The Schuttes say their old tie stall barn was wearing out, labor was a challenge, and they need time for their four young children.  They say changing to the robots also improved production for their 112 cows.  Lance says, “We’ve been averaging 100 (pounds) since we went to robots, and we were probably 85-90 pounds before that.”  Jonna says, “We peaked at 110.”

Jonna says like many other robotic dairies, there was one expense they didn’t see coming… the additional cost of teat dip.  “I guess common sense would tell you we would have gone through a lot more because you’re spraying it and not dipping it, but it’s just hard to wrap your head around how much it can actually spray.”

The Schutes also say it helps to be mechanically inclined when going to a robot system so that farmers can save money on simple maintenance and repairs.

Four Lely A4 robots milk the family’s Brown Swiss, Holsteins, and Ayrshires.

The Schuttes discussed their experiences with robotics during the 2017 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.

 

Source: Brownfield


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