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Dairy is the latest to see big advancements with robotic milking operations. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture East Tennessee Research and Education Center recently installed new robotic milkers to conduct research on the new tool.
Thomas Capps: Robots Milking Cows. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I’m Thomas Capps.
Randy Boyd: This is just one more example of how important technology is in the future of farming and agriculture technology continues to lead the way in the ag industry.
Thomas Capps: Dairy is the latest to see big advancements with robotic milking operations. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture East Tennessee Research and Education Center recently installed new robotic milkers to conduct research on the new tool. UT President Randy Boyd says it’s critical UT stays up to date on the latest ag technology.
Randy Boyd: This is the future of dairy, it’s something that we had to have some expertise in. I came here about two years ago and Hongwei and the team here shared with me their vision of having these robotics and saying how necessary it was if they’re going to continue to lead and to provide expert advice to dairy farmers across Tennessee. We’re going to have to be leading in the technology.
Thomas Capps: UTIA Dean of AgResearch Hongwei Xin says they are conducting research on all forms of milking, so that farmers can determine what will be best for them.
Hongwei Xin: We have both systems that are a robotic system and a conventional housing system under the same roof and allows us to truly compare apples with apples because if you have two systems in two separate settings bars, the environment itself could impact the performance of the animals so therefore, the conversion may not be as valid as a dairy farmer himself.
Thomas Capps: Loudon County native Steve Harrison is glad to see UTIA investing in research that can benefit himself and fellow dairymen.
Steve Harrison: Technology is in everything we deal with including the dairy industry, and we need research done with this technology and it’s great opportunity for you to help us help the dairy industry in Tennessee and the Southeast and in the nation.
Thomas Capps: Technology that will hopefully improve the dairy industry and keep it going for years to come. For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I’m Thomas Capps.