Comparative evaluation of economic efficiency of using milking robots in OOO Pokrovskoe in the Vologda oblast

Amid modern management conditions, the introduction of advanced milk production technology on the basis of loose cow keeping and voluntary robotic milking system can improve the efficiency of milk production. Despite significant capital intensity, modern technology solves the problem of reducing costs and improving product quality. Therefore, the main purpose for the research is to identify the technological features and evaluate economic indicators of using modern milking systems. The analysis of introducing milking robots based on the experience of advanced economies and the example of OOO Pokrovskoe presents a comparative assessment of economic efficiency of using the basic principles of milking with different ways of keeping. The method of research includes analysis of comparable data on a household conducted excluding the cost of construc-tion or reconstruction of farms, costs of purchase and installation of equipment, but taking into account all possible costs ensuring the production process. The obtained research results draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of robotic milking, as the production profitability including all costs is higher than using the milking line with tie-up keeping type; and is at the same level with milking in a barn with loose keeping. The authors also note that robotic automation of the farm provides comfortable conditions for animal keeping in the least stressful environment with optimal nutrition, and timely information about various diseases. It meets all the requirements of preserving and improving the health of the herd, and helps introduce timely prevention measures for animals with increased period of their economic use. In addition, herd cull in the household equipped with “robots” is much smaller than that of non-robotic farms. The obtained results will help managers find a reasonable approach to choosing further paths of farms' development and assess their possibilities when implementing a milking robots.