Applied robotic herd management system in a dairy farm in South Kazakhstan

A dairy farm in South Kazakhstan has adopted a robotic cow management and breeding system that automizes the milking and recording of health metrics  for the entire herd. Up until 2013, all tasks on the farm, including feeding and milking, were carried out manually, resulting in an overconsumption of feed and reduced milk yields. By 2015, the farm had introduced Holstein-Friesian breed cows from Canada, prompting a need for advanced herd management. This led the management to invest in Swiss robotic milking machines equipped with various features, including manure removal scrapers and cow back rubbers, and the adoption of the DeLaval DelPro™ FarmManager dairy management system. The system automates milking tasks using machines operated by a single person, and relying on the cow's own schedule for milking. Each cow wears a smart collar for the collection of such data as location, milk production and health metrics, while automated machines help calculate feed ratios and manage manure removal. This holistic system, applied to a herd of 1520 cows, can be remotely accessed for real-time monitoring.

• Mobile app
• Desktop/web-based application
• Sensor
• Robotics
• Internet of things (IoT)
• Cloud

Operating on proprietary software, the system supports real-time data collection and monitoring via smart collars worn by each cow. The collars capture vital data such as location, milk production and health indicators. The system is controlled from a desktop application or can be operated remotely through a specialized app that is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. The backend server is continuously updated, thus ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the data. Local farm administrators or veterinarians can input or update the information either through the mobile application or the desktop interface, ensuring seamless integration in support of effective herd management.

• Smallholder farmers
• Medium size farms
• Large size farms

The system has been reported to be popular among European dairy farms, and even small operations. In Kazakhstan, farms with herd sizes of 60 cows or more can benefit best from this technology, as each machine can serve 60 cows.

• One time purchase

The system was financed from self-generated funds and external support. Specifically, 70 percent of the investment into this innovative technology was derived from the farm's own reserves, while 30 percent was financed through a concessional loan from the “Agrarian Credit Corporation”. The business also benefited from government subsidies in support of animal husbandry, which helped to cushion the impact of the rising costs of imported feed and animal protection products.

The application of the robotic herd management approach has led to savings in time and labour, while optimizing such processes as automated milking, artificial insemination, veterinary care, feeding and manure removal, and increasing milk yields. The farmer claims that the system has helped eliminate excessive feed consumption, as the herd management system calculates the feed ratios for each cow individually, which are fed according to the amount of milk produced by the animal. For example, if a cow gives 45–50 l of milk, it is fed 2 kg of feed. According to health metrics, milk quality is analysed for early disease detection, reducing cases of mastitis from 15–20 percent to just 1 percent.

DeLaval