Automation in Dairy Farms – A Key Path to Modernization

The automation of dairy farms represents one of the most important directions for the modernization of the livestock sector. Systems such as milking robots, digital animal health monitoring, and environmental sensors allow farmers to increase productivity while reducing operational costs.

According to a Rabobank 2024 report, the use of milking robots can increase milk yield per cow by 8–10%, while at the same time reducing labor needs by up to 20%. In Romania, only about 6% of commercial farms use such technologies, compared to over 40% in Western European countries. This gap is explained by high initial costs and limited access to financing.

However, through the EAFRD programs and the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027, Romanian farmers can access support for investments in digitalization and automation. In addition, studies by the EFSA show that automated farms have a greater capacity to monitor animal health, reducing the incidence of diseases by up to 15%.

Adapting to these solutions is crucial for the competitiveness of the dairy sector, in a European market increasingly focused on efficiency and sustainability.

(Photo: Freepik)