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Is it so you can leave the cows to it and go to the beach?
Think again and take a reality check because AMS is not for you.
Is it to overcome a high staff turnover?
If staff are leaving because of long hours and the physical demands of milking then a move to AMS will help to make the milking process less physically demanding and tedious...but if it is because of poor staff management, little time off and personal conflicts then installing an AMS will not address these issues.
Is it to achieve a quick fix for cow health?
While lameness will likely reduce with a move to AMS, the evidence suggests SCC and mastitis levels will increase in the short term then settle back to pre-AMS levels.
Is it part of a succession plan?
Some farmers adopting AMS in New Zealand have done so to make the farm more attractive to family members who have come back onto the farm. It certainly changes the work environment and gives more flexibility to get the necessary jobs done. Make sure the farm business is strong enough to support the finance associated with AMS milking.
Is it to find out more information about your cows?
A common misconception with AMS is that farmers will lose touch with their cows. This is not true. In fact many farmers say they know more about their cows in an AMS environment. The software provides a lot of data on the individual cow including yields, milking intervals, milking speed, weight, mastitis indicators and much more. The challenge is to take advantage of this data to improve the productivity of the herd and use it to adopt a proactive management approach.
Is it to reduce the twice-a-day tie to the dairy shed?
AMS means a more flexible working day however the majority of systems still require twice daily checking of reports, fetching slow cows and setting up of new pasture areas.
Is it production or profit driven?
AMS is unlikely to improve the profit margins on your farm in the short term. The cost of capital is higher than conventional milking systems as well as annual maintenance costs. While animal health is likely to improve, production is expected to decline in the first season then return to pre-conversion levels.
(From Kendra Kerrisk, Future Dairy www.futuredairy.com.au)
