The future for dairy lies in robots

The company is on the brink of introducing a fully automated decision-based farm management system that will run the farm on behalf of the farmer.

Lely chief executive Alexander van der Lely gave his take on the future dairy farm at the company’s 70th year celebrations and Lely Future Farm Days in Maassluis, Netherlands this month.

Lely says he envisages fully robotic dairy farms worldwide.

“Adaption of automation is really gaining pace now; there seems no end to this trend and there’s a reason for it,” he says.

“Robotisation is for most countries the only answer to labour shortage and to succession. It’s no secret that fewer people want to work in the agricultural industry and automation offers a real solution.”

The company has launched a new, redesigned robotic milker -- the Lely Astronaut 5 -- scheduled to make its NZ debut at the National Fieldays in Hamilton in June.

Lely introduced its first Astronaut robotic milker (A1) in 1992; today 30,000 Lely robots milk cows around the world.

Alexander Lely says farmers are part of his company’s DNA and its innovations are designed to help farmers enjoy profitable and sustainable dairying.

Future farm integrated solutions from Lely will centre on the cow and automate repetitive tasks in the milking shed so that farmers can “focus on things that really matter”.

Lely says the `decision-based´ farm management system supports increased profitability, sustainability and usability for both farmer and cow. 

“This software uses the many data sources available on the farm and from the ecosystem surrounding it. Instead of only presenting information, the system will propose or even make decisions with the farmer’s permission. 

“The system will be self-learning and, over time, will adapt to the farmer’s preferences for running the farm.”

He urged other dairy industry stakeholders, e.g. vets, feed and insemination suppliers, to work with his company.

“We cannot do this alone,” he said.