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Robotic Milker Systems: A Cross-sectional Study Evaluating Farmer Perceptions of Quality of Life on Robotics and Non-Robotics Dairies

Project Description

View All Funded Pilot Projects

2015-present

Robotic milking systems (RMS) have increased in popularity across the upper Midwest. As the average age of dairy farmers continues to rise and as farms modernize, more owners are looking at options to opt out of traditional milking tasks. With an RMS, an owner-operator’s personal labor is reduced. This also appeals to a younger generation interested in taking over the farm.

RMS’s operate with limited human interaction, allowing cows to be milked on their own schedule. Unlike farmers and farm workers, robots are typically able to milk the cows 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not only does this procedure change farm safety considerations, it also has a direct impact on the owner’s time, which can now be spent off-farm, or managing other areas of the operation.

This pilot project will create an instrument that will quantitatively and qualitatively assess the variations in injuries on farms with RMS installations. This project will also evaluate the perceived quality of life among the farmers and families of milking robot owners and non-robot owners in the upper Midwest.

As the average age of dairy farmers continues to rise and as farms modernize, more owners are looking at options to opt out of traditional milking tasks.

Presentations

  • Weichelt, B, A Robotic Reality: Milking the most out of Life on a Small Dairy Farm, Nordic Meeting on Agricultural Occupational Health and Safety. Billund, Denmark. August 24-26, 2016.
  • Bryan Weichelt, Casper Bendixsen, Matthew Keifer. A Robotic Reality: Milking the Most out of Life on a Small Dairy Farm and Preparing for the Next Generation. 2016 UMASH Annual Forum. Saint Paul, MN. September 29, 2016.

Project Personnel

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Photo of Bryan Weichelt PhD, MBA

Bryan Weichelt, PhD, MBA

Project Scientist National Farm Medicine Center
Phone: 715-221-7276
Photo of Casper Bendixsen PhD

Casper Bendixsen, PhD

Associate Director of UMASH Director of the National Farm Medicine Center
Phone: 715-387-9410 Website: View Bio