How a milking robot changed a mother's life

When Michele Schneider married her husband Virlei in 2013, she did not have much of a clue what life on a dairy farm would be. But when she fell in love with Virlei, who himself had grown up on a dairy farm, they soon developed the idea of founding their own family farm.

“I can honestly say it was love at first sight – a passion I have for my animals, for this extraordinary work,” Michele says. Stepwise building their dairy herd, they soon grew the herd to 25 cows. They knew that further growth, on the one hand, was necessary to make a good living for their family. On the other hand, the workload on the small-scale traditional farm grew remarkably for the couple. Milking three times a day took up six hours, not to mention the other tasks from feeding to maintaining the equipment, handling the manure and managing the herd's health.

It’s a challenging daily routine for many small-scale dairy farmers in Brazil. The country’s dairy industry is the fourth largest in the world, with over 1 million dairy farms and a cattle herd of nearly 17 million dairy cows as of 2023. The range of production methods is truly diverse. While about 10% of the largest producers with several thousand cows account for more than 60% of the country's milk output, around 80% of dairy farmers are smallholders with fewer than 30 cows.

Family farming plays a crucial role in the country's agricultural landscape. But especially small producers struggle to sustain operations, producing less than 50 liters per day, due to rising feed and production costs, labor costs or the amount of manual workload.

For Michele, it felt like they were living just for the cows. There was almost no time for themselves – or the children. While mornings offered a brief rest for breakfast, Michele often found herself already thinking ahead to the next set of farm tasks. Afternoons brought another round of milking, more feeding and careful checks on the herd. Even after dinner, Michele and Virlei continued into the evening with milking. It was a demanding rhythm – but through it all, they stayed committed to their farm and the animals. Still, they longed for a life with more balance, more time for each other and moments to truly enjoy with their children.

When the robot took over, Michele got her life back

What the robot means for Michele and her family life is priceless. Now, Michele can enjoy simple pleasures like taking her children to school, having breakfast with them and even doing sports. The robot gave her a new lease on life, allowing her to focus on her health and spend quality time with her family. The farm's success also meant that her children could see a future in farming, ensuring the family's legacy.

“The robot changed everything," she says. "Now, I’m more of a 'mom.' I wake up, have breakfast with the kids, take them to school. Before, I was milking at that time. No more rushing now.”

The GEA DairyRobot R9500 didn't only improve the farm's productivity; it brought balance and joy back into Michele's life. She no longer feels bound by the routine and can finally breathe and enjoy the fruits of their labor. The investment in technology proved to be a game-changer, providing Michele and her family with a better quality of life and a brighter future.