This project helped guide the decision-making process for new and current dairy producers to determine if precision technologies were a financially sustainable tool that would improve quality of life for the dairy animal and producer, while increasing labor efficiency. Understanding the challenges, maintenance requirements, data analysis, and technical support
are critical factors in the decision.
With continued low profit margins, labor efficiency and adoption of profitable technologies continue to be key factors in farm viability. Combining good management practices with financially sustainable technologies can provide greater levels of farm productivity.
This project focused on automatic milking systems, low cost parlor automation, feed mixing automation, automatic calf feeders, and health sensors. With limited interaction in person during the project, more emphasis was put into time lapse camera demonstration to show how it can be used to improve farm productivity.
We completed 31 producer management surveys, 9 on-farm workshops, 4 webinars, 9
time lapse camera installations, 5 best management practice videos, and 18 individual farm visits.
Over 100 producers and industry partners increased awareness, understanding, and decision making ability regarding precision technologies. Long term, producers will reduce risk and increase labor efficiency, impacting profitability.