The success of robotic milking is based on the cows in the barn. This concerns housing, feed, care and working with the animals. The first task of the robot farmer is to leave the cows in peace. They must be healthy, they must enjoy eating concentrate and they must go easily to the robot to be milked. No more is required, but certainly no less. The second challenge for the dairy farmer who is starting robotic milking is organizing the work. There are few tasks that take place at fixed times, but the farmer still has to have daily work lists. And he relies heavily on information that is provided by the computer. Because the cows must be super-healthy and stay super-healthy, and the technical apparatus must continue to work perfectly. Prevention and thinking ahead are crucial. "Good enough" does not work; only "excellent" is acceptable. The successful robot farmer is a manager who knows how to distinguish important issues from subsidiary ones. He focuses primarily on the cows, thinks in terms of processes and can work well with management information. Robotic Milking is a book about managing robotic dairy farms. It is full of practical information, management information and ideas. It is written by Jan Hulsen of the Vetvice Group, so you are assured of practical, complete and accessible information.
