4/28/2008 9:14:00 AM Suhr readies for robotic milker
Construction will begin on Zumbro Ridge Farm this week where owner and operator Doug Suhr is preparing his facility for the arrival of robotic milking technology. The robotic milkers will come online in mid-July when they will replace Suhr’s double-six herringbone parlor. (photos by Krista Sheehan)
Krista Sheehan Staff Writer
*Editor's note: This is the first story in a series of Dairy Star articles about robotic milkers that are making their way onto Minnesota dairy operations.
KASSON, Minn. - The traffic on Dodge County road 15 may be heavier after July 15. But, these travelers won't be following a detour; they will be visiting Zumbro Ridge Farm to see two robotic milkers.
"They've already guaranteed me (there will be a large number of people touring the facilities)," said Doug Suhr, owner of Zumbro Ridge Farm.
This week, Suhr will begin the building process in order to accommodate the two robotic milkers he is installing on his farm. Mid-July is the tentative start date for the robotic milkers, which will be among the first in southeast Minnesota.
Although the robots will be a new venture that is likely to gain attention, Zumbro Ridge Farm has been in the spotlight in the past. In 1951, Suhr's grandfather, Dean, built one of the first parlors and installed one of the first bulk tanks in the state.
"We still have the guest book from people who visited back then," he said. "People were skeptical."
Parlors are now a typical milking facility, but Suhr said robotic milkers might cause the same doubts.
"I think some people are skeptical of the robotics, too," he said. "Everybody is so scared of computers. That's basically what (a robotic milker) is - a big computer."
The robotic milkers will take over for Suhr's double-six herringbone parlor - the parlor his grandfather built - to milk his 114 cows.
Suhr said the building process won't interfere much while he milks in his current facility. A 27-by-58 foot area will be added to the north end of the 120-cow freestall barn, which Suhr built in 1997. Each robotic milker will have its own room and four viewing windows will be installed for tours.
"(Viewing windows) will be a little less disturbing for the cows," Suhr said.
This wasn't the first time Suhr thought about installing a robotic milker. About four years ago, Suhr considered buying two robots from a Wisconsin farmer who was selling his cows. Suhr decided the robots weren't right for him at the time, but in the years to follow, he researched robotic milkers on the Internet and read several brochures.
"The one thing I couldn't really do is go look at other (robotic milkers) because there are hardly any around here," Suhr said.
Especially since Suhr only knows of two other robotic milkers in the state.
However, last November, Suhr had the opportunity to visit Holland, which is where the robotic milkers he is installing are made. On the trip, he learned 60 percent of all new dairy facilities in Holland are robots.
"They're pretty big into them over there," he said. "They're way ahead of (the United States)."
On the sevens farms he visited, Suhr said most had robots that were in use for three to four years.
"They definitely had them in there long enough that they knew they liked them," he said. "I asked them what was the main reason they went to (robotic milkers) and they said 'help.'"
Labor is the same reason Suhr is installing robotic milkers on his farm. In the past six years, Suhr has changed employees 10 times.
"It's not so much that (the robots) are going to save me a lot more time, it's the fact that they're going to be reliable," he said.
Suhr is also looking forward to other advantages.
"Milk will go up and there will be less stress on the cows," he said. "We noticed that in Holland."
Suhr said he is a little overwhelmed by the project, even though it's still in its infancy.
"Everyone I talk to has a million questions," he said.
However, he's also looking forward to his future milking facility.
"I think it's going to be all that I expect and more," Suhr said. "It's just unreal how they work."
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Article comment by:
Ron & Sue K.
We just met your Grandpa Dean. He is very proud of you and your family. He was telling us about your robotic milking. Good luck in your future undertaking.
