Fifty dairy robots, one vision for the future

How Jan Urban built the
largest automated milking farm in Czechia

A vision takes shape

When Jan Urban returned home after studying agricultural engineering and gaining experience in the U.S. and the Netherlands, he brought with him a clear goal.

“I wanted to show that modern, high-tech dairy production can thrive here in Czechia,” he says. “We have the expertise, the people and the land. All we needed was the right technology.”

As farm manager, Urban oversees more than 3,000 hectares of land and around 1,200 dairy cows. For years, milking took place in a traditional double-20 side-by-side milking parlor, a process that demanded five employees working around the clock per six-hour milking shift. But like many farmers across Europe, Urban faced increasing challenges: labor shortages, cost pressure and changing standards for animal welfare and milk quality. To secure a sustainable future for his farm, he turned to automation and digitalization.

Czech dairy at a turning point

After the transfer of the formerly planned economy into a market-driven economy, the Czech dairy sector is highly consolidated. The number of dairy farms has declined in the last 20 years, resulting in about 1,125 milk producing farms with an average herd size of 314 cows per farm. A number of large-scale farms operate more than one barn or even site with dairy cows.

Despite a high cost pressure on milk producers, according to Statista the milk market in Czechia is estimated to grow steadily in the coming years, driven by technological advancements and growing health consciousness among consumers.

Yet the sector still faces familiar pressures like limited labor availability, fluctuating milk prices and growing expectations from both consumers and regulators. Urban saw these developments not as obstacles but as opportunities. “We didn’t just want to survive,” he explains. “We wanted to build a farm that leads by example: efficient, economically viable and attractive for future generations.”

Precision in every rotation with GEA DairyProQ

At the heart of the transformation lies GEA’s DairyProQ technology, a modular, fully automated rotary milking system designed for large, performance-oriented dairies. Each of the 50 stalls functions as an independent robotic unit, performing every step of the milking process, from cleaning and attaching to milking and post-dipping, with consistent precision. The modular setup ensures maximum uptime: If one unit requires service, the rest continue milking seamlessly. For large dairy farms, this means reliability, efficiency and consistent milk quality.

Integrated sensors record key data, such as yield, milk flow, conductivity and udder health indicators, during every milking session. They send information directly to the herd management system. These insights allow early detection of health issues and enable preventive care, improving both productivity and animal well-being.

“Preventive care rather than reactive treatment, that’s true precision farming,” says Milan Lasek, the herd manager. “We can act before we see visible symptoms. It’s better for the cows, keeps veterinary costs low and safeguards the milk quality.”

Partnership and expertise

The Uhelna project is the result of strong collaboration between GEA engineers, the local dealers’ technicians and the farm team. From concept to commissioning, GEA experts supported every phase, providing technical guidance, training and ongoing service. According to Dr. Walter Weymann, Technical Advisor at GEA, “This installation represents engineering excellence combined with local dedication. It shows how GEA’s global know-how can be adapted to regional farming realities.” This partnership ensures long-term reliability and continuous improvement, key elements for any large-scale automated dairy system.

Smarter work, sustainable results

Automation and digitalization have not only increased productivity but also improved working conditions and animal welfare. The new system provides an attractive, modern and safe environment for the employees and has eased the work tremendously. Now one operator – instead of three milkers in former times – can oversee a shift of six hours. 

Daily operations revolve around data-driven decision-making rather than repetitive tasks. Cows enjoy a calm, consistent milking experience, while staff focus on animal health, feeding strategies and performance monitoring.

“Technology empowers people to work smarter,” Urban emphasizes, “and to take better care of the animals.” By combining efficiency with animal welfare, the farm embodies the next generation of resource-saving dairy farming.

A model for Czech and European dairy

The Uhelna installation stands as a flagship project for dairy automation in Central Europe.

It demonstrates that fully automated milking systems can deliver high performance while maintaining animal health and welfare. “The challenges are universal: labor shortages, animal health, economic pressure,” says Dr. Weymann. “With solutions like DairyProQ, we help farms everywhere work smarter, not just harder.” For GEA, the project underscores the company’s mission: engineering solutions that make farming more efficient, resource-economical and resilient, globally and locally alike.

Engineering for a Better World

The Czech DairyProQ installation is more than an efficiency project. It’s a vision realized: a seamless connection between people, engineering and respect for resources. It exemplifies how GEA’s innovation and expertise are shaping the future of dairy by creating smarter, safer and more resource-efficient farms worldwide.