New Barn. New Robot. New Routine

“The transition meant going from ending every day stiff and sore to enjoying a much more comfortable daily routine.“

That’s how Ola Grafsrønningen, 31, describes the change after moving into a new barn equipped with a DeLaval VMS V310 milking robot. He is the fourth generation of his family to run the Lillegraf farm in Hernes, just outside Elverum in Norway, which he took over in 2020. At that point, he had already decided to replace the old tie‑stall barn from the late 1970s with a new free‑stall barn featuring a milking robot. He began using the new barn in May 2021.

“It was really all or nothing. The old barn was worn out, and I chose to build and invest. I’ve always had a genuine interest in – and passion for – dairy farming. This is something I’ve chosen myself,” Ola says.

His investment is already showing results – Grafsrønningen has increased milk production from 150 to 400 tonnes, primarily through quota leasing (in Norway, farms are limited in how much milk they can produce each year; farms that don’t use their full quota can lease – rent – part of it to others). Plus, while milk is the main focus, Ola has also kept the beef cattle herd on the farm, consisting of 35 Charolais.

A better way of working
In addition to a better working situation with less physical labour, the milking robot provides completely new possibilities compared with the old tie-stall barn.

The time I spend in the barn is the same, but the work minutes per animal are significantly fewer. You also get a much better overview of the operation and a more stable business,” Ola emphasises.

“What I like most is how easy it has been to get started with cows or heifers that haven’t been milked in the robot before. You just get them in, and the robot does everything itself. I can control the feed trough and the gate behind so the animals are guided into position. After doing that a couple of times, they stand still. The robot has very good attachment. The arm finds the right position without any learning. It has worked excellently.”

RePro is reliable
Ola uses both the DeLaval RePro system for heat and pregnancy detection, as well as the DeLaval Body Condition Scoring BCS camera connected to the robot.

“I detect heat early and can make sure the cow is ready at the right time for insemination. I also detect silent heats, abnormal heats, and cysts at an early stage, and can quickly get the cows cycling properly again. RePro gives reliable indications of when peak heat occurs, and I think we’ve done well in pinpointing heat and insemination. The vet who inseminates here says RePro has proven to be very reliable.”

The same applies to the pregnancy checks performed with RePro.

“That’s also a big plus. I get pregnancy confirmed via RePro and avoid the cost of pregnancy examinations. I can monitor developments after insemination, either towards pregnancy, a possible return to service, or an abortion alert. If there is an abortion, I can quickly get the cow back on the insemination and heat list again,” he explains.

A new approach to feeding
The body condition scoring camera continuously takes video and 3D images of the cows as they enter the milking robot. This forms the basis for body condition scores, which are a good indicator of the animals’ health, wellbeing, and production ability.

“The camera revealed that I had too many fat animals, which indicates slightly too intensive feeding. In the tie‑stall barn they got concentrate for a bit too long, so the cows put on weight leading up to drying off. Now we reduce the concentrate a little faster at the end of lactation. That’s good for both animal health and the wallet.”

He gets help from an adviser from TINE dairy to set up feeding plans and manage feeding, but over time he wants to take over more of this himself.

“With the body condition scoring camera there’s been a bit of a shift. Now we adjust concentrate allocation almost all the time, whereas before we made changes once or twice a month. This gives better rearing before calving, so the animals reach production more quickly after calving.”

He currently uses only one type of concentrate feed, but he has the option to use two. During the planning of the new barn, it was discussed whether he should have a concentrate feeder in the barn in addition to feeding in the milking robot.

“I’m glad I installed a concentrate station in the barn. It reduces pressure on the robot, which should primarily be a milking station and not a feeding machine.”

Building the barn – from the ground up
Ola is also a carpenter and has worked as an excavator operator in construction. This skillset saw him carry out all the groundwork for the barn himself, with help from his father and friends. Excavation began in September 2020, and a month later they started casting. Construction of the building began around New Year 2021. TINE provided the main drawings for the barn, after which Grafsrønningen involved Felleskjøpet and the construction company he had previously worked for.

“I’m very positive about Felleskjøpet and DeLaval as partners both during construction and afterwards. They’ve followed up on everything. I’m simply super satisfied,” he says.

“Felleskjøpet took over and fine‑tuned TINE’s drawings and finalised the solutions. FK Bygg and the sales team did this together, and all measurements and fixtures were correct from the start. I just bought the building kit and had the construction company put the building up. Everything fitted perfectly.”

Grazing with a milking robot – how well does it work?
How has it worked to combine the milking robot and grazing?

“I was very curious about that, but it’s gone surprisingly well. I have around 2.5 hectares of fenced grazing next to the barn, with rye, ryegrass and some older pasture. If I stop with beef cattle, I can get an additional 3 hectares. I just open the door and the cows go out by themselves. It’s worked from day one,” says Grafsrønningen.

The farm is in an area where there are predators. All animals, including the Charolais herd, therefore have to be on fenced grazing.

Final thoughts
Overall, the move to a modern, automated barn has given Ola a more efficient operation, healthier animals, and a far better working day. The investment has already strengthened both productivity and sustainability on the farm — and set him up well for the years ahead.

^*Customer statements reflect the daily experiences of our customers using DeLaval products. The results described have not been evaluated by an independent party, and DeLaval does not claim these results are typical.

Actual results and improvements depend on several factors such as previous milking routines, type of cows, farm management and routines. Customer statements do not constitute a guarantee of results