Rolling Hills, Robotic Milking

Eastern Kentucky University has a hidden gem in Madison County, tucked away so well between Richmond and Waco that even the most seasoned resident may not know it exists, much less have paid it a visit.

Meadowbrook Farm sits on 720 acres of gently rolling land just a couple miles off of State Route 52. It is everything that the word "farm" might bring to mind for the average person: herds of cattle roaming the hills; barns and silos scattered throughout; fields of corn and soy. To a visitor with little to no experience in the world of agriculture, farm life seems simply picturesque and beautiful. While Meadowbrook is picturesque and beautiful, only when taking the time to tour the farm with one of its expert staff will a visitor start to understand and appreciate the complex world of agriculture. 

While touring, a foreign-to-farm-life visitor may acquire some simpler knowledge (what does the phrase "work the cattle" really mean?; Did you know that Meadowbrook is completely self-sustaining?), along with gaining exposure to the impressive technological advances of the past year.

The dairy herd at Meadowbrook, Stateland Dairy, is entering an exciting new era. Construction to accommodate a robotic milker began in 2017 and was recently completed, with production beginning in July 2018. This technology is changing the world of agriculture, and it is especially impressive to those with no previous exposure. The milker can be viewed by way of the attached parlor, large enough to accommodate at least 30, where visitors can watch the action up close. What they will see is one cow entering the milker at a time, inticed by a highly palatable feed. Once inside, a previously mapped teat position sensor is able to locate the udders for each particular cow. The udders are cleaned, milked, and sprayed. Once the process is complete, the cow will exit the milker, with the next cow following close behind. Every cow is identified by a collar, and information is collected each time the animal visits. With a click of a button, farm staff can view how many times a particular cow has entered the milker and how much milk it has produced. This information is invaluable for herd management and data analysis, increasing efficiency and production. Furthermore, voluntary milking reduces the need for the labour required with a rigid milking schedule, allowing farm staff more time to analyze procedures and increase production.

EKU is one of four universities in the nation and the only university in the southeast region to transition to an automatic milking system. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the milker is scheduled at the farm for September 27, 2018.  

Tours of the farm are available and encouraged. Come explore Meadowbrook! Schedule your tour.