Tumba, Sweden, 14 February 2025 – As dairy farmers seek more efficient ways to manage larger herds, VMS Batch Milking is gaining popularity worldwide. Already in use on 20 farms across 13 countries with more underway, it is expected that installations will double each year.
Designed for medium- to large-scale operations – typically 300 or more cows – the DeLaval VMS™ Batch Milking system was first introduced more than five years ago to help address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges: labour shortages, rising costs, and the increasing demand for efficiency, flexibility, and scalability.
It does this by harnessing the benefits of robotic milking with batch milking principles. Unlike traditional voluntary milking systems (VMS), where cows are milked autonomously at any time, or parlour milking, which follows a fixed schedule and requires manual labour, VMS Batch Milking combines both scheduled milking and automation. By grouping cows for scheduled milking and using VMS milking robots, it increases milk production, improves cow comfort, milk quality, cow flow, milk production efficiency, and labour efficiency, while still maintaining current feeding strategies and reducing the need for expensive concentrates.
Lene and Michael Jensen of Havredalsgaard, Hammel, Denmark, explain how VMS Batch Milking has simplified their operations and tackled labour challenges: “We had an old parlour that needed to be replaced. We heard about VMS Batch Milking and became interested in that setup. It appealed to us both in terms of making our daily work easier and retaining staff. And not least, we would be less vulnerable. Our cows are extremely comfortable in the system. It is easy to transition from a parlour to VMS Batch Milking, and we have experienced reduced workload and calmness around the milking process.” Their set-up includes 14 VMS V300 robots.
Johan and Willem Loonen from Boerderij De Boterpot, Merselo, the Netherlands, milk 500 cows using 11 VMS V310 robots. For them, batch milking has significantly boosted productivity: “With our rotary we couldn’t expand to three milkings a day, but with VMS Batch Milking we can. And we can handle that third milking without additional staff, while having a better balance between work, sleep, and family.”
Benefits of VMS Batch Milking include:
Robert Jensen, VMS Batch Milking Specialist at DeLaval, explains that the system’s success comes from working closely with farmers to create a practical solution. “We spent a lot of time on farms, understanding their needs and finding solutions to address their challenges,” he says. “VMS Batch Milking is effective because it is grounded in real-world experience. Initially, batch milking was used primarily by larger farms with 500 cows, but now we are seeing more and more smaller farms with around 300 cows recognising the advantages for their business. Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised to see installations double each year as more farms adopt the system to meet the demands of modern dairy farming.”
With over 140 years of experience in milking technology, DeLaval has developed a deep understanding of barn design, cow movement, and milking routines. “Our expertise in planning and designing traditional barns, including rotary and conventional milking systems, gives us a unique edge. While many suppliers focus solely on the equipment, our ability to offer full planning and design services ensures VMS Batch Milking fits seamlessly into existing farm setups and optimises efficiency,” Jensen adds.
The value of combining farm design and technology is clearly demonstrated by Lars Paulson, who runs Kvangården in Halland, Sweden. Milking 450 cows with 12 VMS V300 units, he highlights how the VMS Batch Milking setup seamlessly adapted to his existing barns and routines: “With the VMS V300 Batch Milking system, we were able to automate the milking process while keeping our existing barns, feeding, and milking routines. Now, we receive much more detailed information about our cows’ health.”
To find out more about VMS Batch Milking visit: DeLaval VMS™ Batch Milking — Batch Milking with Robots
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