April 17, Stavropol, a conference attended by the heads of dairy enterprises, leading industry experts and specialists of «DeLaval» - more than a hundred people from different regions of the Russian Federation and CIS countries — took place. On the one hand, the usual meeting, as milkmen are often gathering to share experiences, how in the present difficult conditions to remain competitive and to produce as much high-quality and cheap milk. On the other - the event was quite extraordinary. Perhaps the first time these questions were discussed in the light of one particular - milking without human intervention, with the help of robots.

Automated milking promptly burst into the life of Russian dairy farms five years ago. For example, the first robot (in other words, VMS - voluntary milking system) from «DeLaval» was established in December 2007 on the breeding plant «Rodina» (Vologda region). In 2008, their example was followed by three more farms. Since then, year by year the number of robotic farms is growing. Geography is expanding too. It is estimated that by the end of this year, more than 20 farms will be equipped with robots, and the total number of stations reaches 150 VMS units. It should be noted that the farms, where automatic milkers are set, are quite different. Among them are small family farms and mega farms too. Some were built from scratch, while others were evolved step by step. On some farms the cows are kept on deep litter in a renovated room or outdoors in open areas, on the other - in barns equipped with modern machinery for climate control, disposal of manure, etc. One thing unites all: those who once tried to work with the robot, do not want to abandon them. There is no reason to believe that the pace of robotization in Russia slows down.

Read more information in the magazine «Milk and Farm» № 3 (10), June 2012