Profitability on dairy farms with automatic milking systems compared to farms with conventional milking systems

The objective of this study was to explore differences in profitability between farms with automatic milking systems (AMS) and farms with conventional milking systems (CMS). To explore profitability, we analysed the gross farm income from dairy cows. Accounting and production data for over a thousand dairy farms were collected. Using kernel-matching, we made CMS farms more comparable to AMS farms. We then used ordinary least squares regression to estimate the effect of AMS relative to farm size and time passed since last investment in milking systems. The results show that farms must have 35 to 40 cows before AMS becomes more profitable than CMS. Further, any profitability gains will only be visible after a transitional period of approximately four years. Milk revenues are higher on AMS farms, and the difference increases with the size of the farm. Production-related costs are also higher on AMS farms.