Large-scale dairies are choosing Lely robotic milking systems as a way to reduce labor costs and improve efficiency, as was discussed in the Large Farming with Lely Roundtable.
Paul Detwiler, Roeland Stoker, and David and Jessica Trimner discussed how their operations milk thousands of cows daily with Lely Astronaut A5 robotic milking systems.
For Paul Detwiler, general manager at STgenetics’ Ohio Heifer Center, the decision to shift to robotics was one driven by growth and the desire to match cutting-edge technology with their commitment to animal welfare.
“We have 4,000 animals on site, with 1,200 cows milked, 850 of those with 16 Lely Astronaut A5 robots,” Detwiler explained. “For us, robotics aligned perfectly with our mission to collect precise data, improve efficiency and give every cow the freedom to do what she does best, which is eat, rest and milk on her own schedule.”
Roeland Stoker, general manager of Ned-Tex Dairy, said his parents, who were first-generation dairy farmers from the Netherlands, always knew robotics would one day be part of their story.
“For years, we thought robots wouldn’t work for our scale,” Stoker said. “But when we maxed out our parlor’s capacity and saw what other large farms were doing with robots, it made perfect sense. Now, 800 of our 900 milking cows use our 15 Lely Astronaut A5 robots. The change in cow behavior and herd performance has been incredible.”
At Miltrim Farms in Wisconsin, David and Jessica Trimner saw an opportunity to build a workplace that attracts and retains good people while giving cows an environment that fits their natural instincts. Today, they milk 1,800 cows with 30 Lely Astronaut A5 robots and run about 300 cows per person.
For all four panelists, the results go far beyond production numbers. With Lely robots, cows decide when to eat, rest or be milked, a major shift from the herd-group mentality of traditional parlors. And with smart data flowing in 24/7, their teams can focus on individual cow care and proactive management.
“It’s amazing how robots let us unlock the talent we already had on our team,” Jessica said. “People we thought were just doing routine chores are now reading data, solving problems and helping cows one-on-one. It’s given them more pride in their work and given us more insight than ever before.”
Learn more about how Miltrim Farms incorporated automation into their farm to improve cow traffic and comfort. Watch their story.
Turning Data into Breeding Decisions
For Paul Detwiler and the team at STgenetics, the move to robotics opened doors to a new level of data, so much so that it changed how they think about genetics and future herds.
“Once we really dug into the Lely data, we realized we could use it to shape the next generation,” Detwiler explained. “We built our own robotic cow index, ranking animals by milking speed, box time and teat placement. It lets us find the cows, and the bulls, best suited for a robotic environment. It’s information we never had with a conventional setup.”
The impact on reproductive efficiency has been a standout advantage for many large robot barns.
“At Ned-Tex, we’ve seen conception and pregnancy rates climb steadily since adding robots,” Stoker said. “With the Nedap collars and separation pens, breeding is more targeted. We know the best time. We’re not guessing. It’s helped our herd reach its full potential, especially in tough Texas summers.”
While Lely’s focus on complete, gentle milkings for every quarter means every robot must be maintained to high standards, producers say the payoff is more time for people to do higher-level work.
“Robots freed up our team to focus on what they’re great at,” Jessica said. “Instead of spending hours in a parlor, we’re managing cows, watching trends and solving problems before they become big issues.”
Robotics allow cows to follow their natural rhythm. No more group milking, no more rushing to stalls. Cows are calm and set their own schedule.
“Right now, we’re averaging about 5,000 lbs. of milk per day,” Jessica said. “We focus a lot on maximizing box time and speed, so we’re keeping that number pretty consistent, even as we grow.”
For components, their robots average about 3.9% fat and 3.2% protein.
Roeland shared similar numbers for Ned-Tex.
“We’re right around 5,000 pounds per day per box. We’re proud of that, especially in Texas with our hot summers. Components run about the same. The consistency has been one of the biggest wins for us. No spikes, no dips, just steady milk.”
The daily yields add up fast, but when paired with the data-driven herd management, every pound is more profitable. Improved reproductive efficiency means fewer open days. Better cow comfort means lower cull rates. And all that tech frees up people to focus on the cows that really need attention.
“We’re looking at the Lely Vector automatic feed system now,” Jessica says. “More precise feeding, less time on a loader, better consistency for the cows. The more we can automate the routine, the better our team can manage the herd.”
For Paul, it’s about taking that mindset all the way back to the calf barn. “We run 11 Lely Calm automatic calf feeders. We’re asking, if we train calves to feed themselves, does that make them better robot cows later? So far, the early data says yes. The calves adapt, they thrive and they stay off the fetch list when they’re milk cows. That’s money in the bank.”
The Bottom Line
Robotic milking is not just about saving time, it’s about spending it smarter. The farms at this roundtable prove it daily, harvesting tens of thousands of pounds of milk, managing reproduction at new levels of precision, and training the next generation of cows — and people — to think differently.
And if you ask them if they’d go back to a parlor? They’ll all tell you the same thing: “Never.”
When you combine reliable service and strong dealer partnerships with their local Lely Centers, why would you? Lely centers stand behind the barn, with technicians close enough to handle emergencies but trusted enough to train your team to do more in-house.
Is robotic milking right for every large farm? Not without the right mindset. These producers didn’t just buy robots, they rebuilt their routines around what cows need, what people can manage well, and what the numbers prove profitable.
Watch the entire Large Farming with Lely Roundtable!