GEA’s new generation of the Dairy Robot R9500 has achieved significantly improved efficiency in automated milking. This has now been proven by an independent test conducted by the German Agricultural Society (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – DLG).

Compared to its previous model, the DairyRobot R9500 single box requires up to 37% less energy, and consumption has also been reduced by 35% in standby mode. Water consumption has been reduced by around 13%.

How the DLG test works

A unique global standard, was developed nine years ago. This was set out by the DLG, the Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture (Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft – LfL), the agricultural magazine profile, and manufacturers of milking technology (including GEA). With this standard, automatic milking systems can be independently tested, and their consumption can be compared among the various milking manufacturers. By making it possible for every manufacturer to have their system tested at the DLG test center according to a defined process transparency is ensured.

For a practical simulation, DLG uses, for example, artificial udders to measure different milk flows and quantities. Using different calculation models (the so-called scenarios), it is thus possible to make forecasts on the consumption of dairy farms depending on their farm management and herd structure.

Higher system availability, more milking per day with reduced operating costs

The improvements of the GEA DairyRobot R9500 in energy and water consumption are due to extensive technical optimizations. The new generation of milking systems includes significant enhancements to the milking technology module, the In-Liner Everything milking process, and the cleaning process.

Parallel processes at the end of the milking procedure, such as teat dipping with simultaneous disinfection of the teat cup, resulted in both reduced resource consumption and reduced box times. In addition, the new separation mode allows farms to milk those cows as a group whose milk would otherwise be discharged individually. As a result, there is no need for intermediate rinses or cleanings after each cow is involved. This significantly reduces water, detergent, and energy consumption and also saves time. After all, the boxes are ready for use again more quickly for the following cows. In total, GEA was able to reduce the milking times by 26 seconds, which means up to nine more milkings per day per box.

Second test for several boxes in the pipeline

Since up to four milking robots can be connected to each GEA supply unit, the results with a multi-box system are likely to be even better in terms of resource savings. GEA had therefore initiated an additional test for a two-box system at the DLG. The results are expected in May this year.