Following nature's example: GEA AutoDry optimally prepares cows for drying off

Drying off cows with high milk yields carries some risks, essentially the increasing risk of mastitis, which must be treated with antibiotics. Conventional methods of preparing for dry off such as restrictive feeding, reduced number of milkings per day or abrupt dry-off can lead to problems. These include metabolic problems, an insufficient flushing effect in the udder – and thus higher germ pressure – as well as high intra-udder pressure. With AutoDry, GEA is now launching a new function that replaces all conventional measures and prepares the cows naturally and optimally for the dry period.

To use GEA AutoDry, all that needs to be done is to activate this function in the herd management system either on a cross-herd level or animal individually. AutoDry should be started for an animal about ten days before dry off. It then automatically initiates cluster removal after a certain target milk quantity is reached. Using a patented algorithm, the cluster is then removed earlier day after day, naturally reducing milk production. In this way, AutoDry stimulates the natural and gentle regression of the mammary gland, which has a positive effect on subsequent lactations.

Field studies conducted by the Thünen Institute, the University of Bonn and Wageningen University show that the health and well-being of the animals can be maintained by natural drying-off. "This new feature will initiate a rethink in dairy animal husbandry and revolutionize the procedure around dry-off," says Dr. Ute Müller from the Institute of Animal Science at the University of Bonn. She worked closely with GEA experts on the development of GEA AutoDry and was in charge of the associated research project, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The research showed that milk production in the udder could be significantly reduced at the end of lactation. AutoDry showed no negative effects on udder health and cow well-being.
In addition to cost savings, this type of drying-off is also less labor-intensive compared to common measures: Regrouping cows several times a day due to animal-specific energy-restrictive feeds or milking only once a day are then no longer necessary.