Robotic milking hits world production record

JTP Farms in Wisconsin, USA, recently achieved unprecedented milk production with DeLaval voluntary milking systems, VMS™. In a seven-day period the dairy harvested an average of 2,933 kg of milk per voluntary milking system from their 247-cow herd. These results are the best yet for any VMS customer in the world – and possibly any producer milking robotically.

“What we’ve been able to achieve is the result of a team effort and would not have been possible without our cows, our families, our facility, and the support we receive from our suppliers. Furthermore, a big factor in this success is the planning and design of our new facility. We put a premium on cow comfort and animal welfare, and it’s clearly proving to be the right decision” says Jake Peissig, one of the owners of the farm.

The farm started milking their cows with the robots in January 2012. They transitioned their herd from a stanchion barn to a new, cross-ventilation facility, swinging cow brushes and automatic manure scrapers. The new operation requires significantly less labour, giving the Peissigs more time to care for their cows and manage their operation.

“What JTP Farms has accomplished is a testament to their good farm management practices and their cows. Dairy producers like the Peissigs make it impossible for DeLaval to state the maximum milk production of VMS. I think we’ve yet to reach the limit, as our VMS customers are proving every day” says Mark Futcher, Marketing Manager of Automatic Milking Systems, DeLaval North America.

JTP Farms performance facts:

• 247 lactating cows
• Two full-time employees for the entire herd and cropping needs
• 12 total labour hours per day for all herd-related activities
• Average daily milk production for all four VMS units over a seven-day period was 2,927 kg (6,453 lbs), equalling 47 kg (104.5 lbs) of milk per cow per day
• During the same period, one VMS harvested 3,131 kg (6,902 lbs) of milk in 24 hours

For more information, please contact:

Carsten Carlsson
Corporate Communications Manager, DeLaval International
Carsten.carlssonext@delaval.com
Mobile: +46 76 633 53 57

About DeLaval
DeLaval is a leading supplier of solutions that improve the performance of farms of professional food producers. We support our customers in reducing their environmental footprint while improving food production, profitability and the well-being of the people and animals involved. We offer products, systems and services for all steps of milk production. Our solutions are used by millions of dairy farmers around the globe every day.

DeLaval was founded more than 125 years ago in Sweden, when the visionary Gustaf de Laval patented the cream separator. Today, DeLaval has 4,500 employees and operates in more than 100 markets. DeLaval, alongside Tetra Pak and Sidel, is part of the Tetra Laval Group. See more at www.delaval.com.