Ukraine’s Kyiv region is set to host the construction of what is expected to become the world’s largest robotic batch milking farm. The project is being developed by Ukrainian Dairy Company, which intends to begin construction of the first phase of the complex later this year. At the initial stage, the company plans to commission 24 milking robots, while the full project provides for a total of 60 robots. This was reported by GEA, the supplier of the farm’s technological equipment.
The key feature of the new livestock complex will be the introduction of Batch milking, a technology new to Ukraine that enables group-based automated milking. The system combines elements of conventional herd management in free-stall housing with automated milking at pre-scheduled times.
Under this technology, cows will be milked in groups according to a set schedule, while the process itself will be carried out by DairyRobot R9650 robotic milking units installed in two rows and supplied by the German equipment manufacturer GEA Farm Technologies GmbH. This system makes it possible to achieve a high level of milking automation while preserving a familiar herd management logic.
According to GEA, the implementation of robotic technology will allow the company to significantly reduce labor costs, while also lowering the need for direct human-animal contact during milking, thereby reducing operational risks. In addition, the system will enable each cow to be fed individually based on its physiological and production requirements.
Another advantage will be the arrangement of equipment servicing. Most of the technological systems will be located in a basement area beneath the robots, allowing maintenance work to be carried out with minimal disruption to the regular milking process.
GEA also emphasized that the project is important not only for Ukraine, but for the global dairy industry as well. According to Oleksii Antonov, AMS Product Manager at GEA Ukraine, the partnership with Ukrainian Dairy Company, one of the country’s largest milk producers, represents an important and highly responsible step.
He noted that the future farm will become a unique landmark project due to its scale and the number of innovative solutions being implemented — from advanced animal housing and feeding systems to automated milking and digital production data management.
