Our Farm Management Support specialists continuously investigate how to improve the milking process even further. They do this by running tests in the barn while using our customers’ knowledge of the Lely barn solutions. In this way they gain valuable insights, which help you to manage your dairy farm more efficiently and profitably.
34 articles
Grazing plays an important role in dairy farming in many regions, especially when cows return to pasture in spring. At the same time, many farms already work with automatic milking systems. For robot farmers, combining grazing with a milking robot often raises a fundamental question: does grazing become a challenge, or can it turn into an opportunity?
In a robotic milking system, cows decide for themselves when to be milked, following their own rhythm throughout the day. Introducing grazing changes cow motivation and movement, which can influence how often cows visit the robot. This is why grazing and robotic milking are often seen as a difficult combination.
In practice, grazing can work well with a milking robot under the right conditions. Understanding how cows balance eating, resting and milking, and how grazing influences that balance, is key to maintaining milk production, cow health and smooth farm operations during the grazing season.
For more than three decades, robotic milking has changed the way dairy farms operate. What began as an idea to reduce physical labor has grown into a smart system that supports farmers, cows, and long-term farm performance.
Early robotic systems were designed to solve one key challenge: how to milk cows safely and consistently without direct human involvement. Over time, these systems developed into reliable, data-driven tools that support free cow traffic, flexible working hours, and healthier herds.
Today, robotic milking is not only about efficiency. It is about creating a barn environment where cows can follow their natural rhythm, farmers gain insight from the data, and daily work becomes more sustainable and future-proof.
Automatic milking technology has transformed dairy farming, but the journey is far from finished at Lely. The continuous development of the automatic milking system is at the heart of our innovation strategy. The Lely Astronaut continues to evolve year after year, driven by new knowledge, new technology and the daily challenges on farms. On the outside, the Lely Astronaut may look similar, but on the inside improvements are made every single year to keep our solution sustainable, profitable and enjoyable to work with. This proves that robotic milking is not a fixed product, but a continuously developing solution built to support farmers today and in the future.
When it comes to barn hygiene, every farmer can recognise themselves in at least one of the following challenges:
The Lely Discovery Collector is developed to address these problems. Designed for barns where traditional systems can struggle, it combines robust engineering, intelligent operation, and reliability to clean practically every corner, even the hard-to-reach areas, day and night. For farmers who strive for consistent hygiene, healthier cows, and less manual labour, the Discovery Collector is the smart choice.
Keeping your barn clean is essential for cow health, milk quality, and overall farm efficiency. But what if your barn has dense floors, sand bedding, or irregular layouts? Traditional scraping systems often struggle in these conditions. That’s why Lely developed the Discovery Collector, the first manure robot designed specifically for dense barn floors.
This innovative solution combines robust engineering, intelligent operation, and proven reliability to deliver consistent cleaning in even the most demanding environments. It’s not just a manure collector, it’s a smarter way to supporting barn hygiene and cow comfort, contributing to cleaner conditions in all areas of the barn.
If you’re considering automatic manure cleaning, two questions usually come first: “Will it work in my barn?” and “Will it keep working?” The Lely Discovery Scraper is built to answer both. With proven technology, robust design, and exceptional fit across different barn layouts, it’s a safe, smart step towards cleaner floors, healthier cows, and a more efficient routine.
More than 20 years ago, Lely introduced its first manure robot the Discovery Scraper and changed the way farmers think about barn hygiene. Today, with over 23,000 units operating worldwide, this solution remains one of the most trusted and proven technologies in dairy farming. But why do some farmers still hesitate? Let’s tackle the misconceptions and show why the Discovery Scraper is the smart choice for modern barns.
Keeping barns clean is essential for cow health, milk quality, and overall farm efficiency. Yet, many farmers still rely on conventional scraping systems, and that comes with challenges. Labour shortages and succession planning make manual scraping harder to sustain. Maintenance headaches like rope changes and repairs cost time and money. Deep bedding stress adds complexity, and traditional scrapers often leave corners and tight spaces dirty, compromising hygiene.
These issues aren’t just frustrating, they impact cow comfort, hoof health, and ultimately your bottom line. The good news? Proven Lely automatic cleaning solutions can help farmers take the next step. Automation? Yes. Reliable? Yes. Robust? Yes. Local support? Absolutely.
Do you feed according to a strategy? And do you know you can influence the quality of your feed? It all starts with taking care of the soil and nutrients. Then, by selecting the right crops, seeding, growing and harvesting, you can influence the taste and consistency of the feed. Also, the optimal fibre length is worth to discover. The six feeding principles below are your starting point for a strong feeding strategy, to feed your cows healthy and nutritious.
